Finding 1221394 (2024-006)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
L
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2024
Accepted
2026-06-30
Audit: 405707
Organization: Village of Ontario (WI)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The Village lacks an effective internal control system for reporting, leading to inaccurate expenditure information in semi-annual reports.
  • Impacted Requirements: Compliance with the Uniform Guidance, which mandates accurate and timely reporting by grant recipients.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: The Village should enhance its review and approval processes to align with Uniform Guidance and ensure accurate reporting.

Finding Text

FINDING: 2024-006 Reporting Federal Agency: U.S. Department Housing and Urban Development Federal Program: Economic Development Initiative, Community Project Funding, and Miscellaneous Grants Assistance Listing # 14.251 Award Period: March 9, 2022 through August 31, 2030 Type of Finding: Material Weakness in Internal Control Over Compliance Criteria: The Uniform Guidance requires that an entity establish a system of properly functioning internal controls and that all reporting be submitted accurately and within the time frames prescribed by the grantors. Condition: The Semi-Annual Reports were submitted by the contracted grant coordinator with inaccurate expenditure information, and there was no further review by Village personnel for the semi-annual reports or the HUD draw requests. Questioned Costs: None Context: There was inaccurate expenditure information reported for the semi-annual reports selected for testing. There was also no documented review or approval for these reports. Cause: The Village has not implemented an effective system of internal controls over reporting to ensure that reports reflect actual expenditure activity for the respective period. The Village has not implemented an effective system of internal controls over reporting to ensure that reports are reviewed and approved by someone within the Village, other than the original preparer of the reports Effect: Without an effective review and approval process, the semi-annual reports may contain inaccurate information. Repeat Finding: The finding is new in the current year. Recommendation: The Village should continue to evaluate its process to ensure they are in accordance with Uniform Guidance. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: The Village is currently reviewing its policies and procedures to ensure that it follows Uniform Guidance Reporting and Cash Management Standards.

Corrective Action Plan

Reporting Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Federal Program: Economic Development Initiative, Community Project Funding, and Miscellaneous Grants, Assistance Listing Number 14.251 Award Period: March 9, 2022 through August 31, 2030 Recommendation: The Village should implement controls to report accurate information in Federal Reports. Explanation of disagreement with audit finding: There is no disagreement with the audit finding. Action planned in response to finding: The Village continues to work at updating its policy and procedures manuals. The Village will amend policies as necessary. Name(s) of the contact person(s) responsible for corrective action: Teresa Taylor, Village Clerk-Treasurer. Planned completion date for corrective action plan: The Village will adopt reporting policies in accordance with Uniform Guidance by December 31, 2025.

Categories

Cash Management HUD Housing Programs Material Weakness Reporting Internal Control / Segregation of Duties

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1221392 2024-004
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1221393 2024-005
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
14.228 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANTS/STATE'S PROGRAM AND NON-ENTITLEMENT GRANTS IN HAWAII $1.77M
14.251 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE, COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING, AND MISCELLANEOUS GRANTS $1.25M
10.760 WATER AND WASTE DISPOSAL SYSTEMS FOR RURAL COMMUNITIES $569,373
10.766 COMMUNITY FACILITIES LOANS AND GRANTS $201,308
21.027 CORONAVIRUS STATE AND LOCAL FISCAL RECOVERY FUNDS $58,091