Finding 1222690 (2023-006)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
F
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2023
Accepted
2026-07-01
Audit: 406287
Organization: Municipality of Guanica (PR)
Auditor: TORRES FRED & CO

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The Municipality of Guánica lacks adequate internal controls over property and equipment acquired with Federal funds, leading to incomplete property records.
  • Impacted Requirements: Non-compliance with 2 CFR, Section 200.313 (d) (1), which mandates detailed property records including source, title, acquisition date, cost, and disposition data.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Management should enhance internal controls by implementing procedures to ensure all required property information is accurately recorded and maintained.

Finding Text

MUNICIPALITY OF GUÁNICA, PUERTO RICO SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2023 SECTION III – Federal Award Finding and Questioned Costs FINDING 2023-006 FEDERAL PROGRAM COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (CDBG) (ASSISTANCE LISTING NO. 14.228) DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT PASS THROUGH STATE HOUSING DEPARTMENT CATEGORY INTERNAL CONTROL REQUIREMENT EQUIPMENT AND REAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT TYPE OF FINDING NON COMPLIANCE CONDITION The Municipality and the Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG) are not maintaining adequate internal controls over property and equipment items acquired with Federal Funds. In testing property and equipment, we noted the following: The property records do not indicate, among other things the source of the property, who holds title, the acquisition date, cost of the property, percentage of Federal participation in the cost of the property, use and condition of the property, and any ultimate disposition data including the date of disposal. CRITERIA 2 CFR, Section 200.313 (d) (1), states that the Property records must include a description of the property, a serial number or another identification number, the source of funding for the property, the title holder, the acquisition date, the cost of the property, the percentage of the Federal agency contribution towards the original purchase, the location, use and condition of the property, and any disposition data including the date of disposal and sale price of the property. CAUSE The CDBG Program has inadequate internal control procedures that guarantee adequate records, registering and safeguarding of property and equipment. EFFECT The lack of adequate internal controls over property and equipment records may hinder management’s ability to properly monitor, safeguard and account for such assets. RECOMMENDATION We recommend management strengthen the internal controls over property and equipment by establishing and implementing procedures to ensure that the property record includes all required information in accordance with Federal regulation. PRIOR YEAR N/A MANAGEMENT RESPONSE We concur with the finding RESPONSIBLE OFFICIALS Mrs. Grety Martinez, Finance Department Director Mrs. Deryn Nuñez, Federal Program Director

Corrective Action Plan

We will give the instructions to the Property Division of the Municipality to update the inventory related to equipment, furniture and vehicles. However, we recognize that the construction in progress and several real properties and infrastructure assets are not recorded in our capital assets records. To correct this situation, we will give instructions to the Property Division of the Municipality to start identifying all the real property and infrastructure owned by the Municipality and start a process of gathering the necessary information related to the cost, completeness, and ownership of its real property and infrastructure assets, to comply with the requirements. Implementation Date: During fiscal year 2025-2026 and during the next fiscal years.

Categories

Equipment & Real Property Management

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
97.036 DISASTER GRANTS - PUBLIC ASSISTANCE (PRESIDENTIALLY DECLARED DISASTERS) $1.69M
14.228 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANTS/STATE'S PROGRAM AND NON-ENTITLEMENT GRANTS IN HAWAII $1.59M
21.027 CORONAVIRUS STATE AND LOCAL FISCAL RECOVERY FUNDS $502,571
93.575 CHILD CARE AND DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT $270,962
21.019 CORONAVIRUS RELIEF FUND $184,645
14.871 SECTION 8 HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHERS $183,982
97.030 COMMUNITY DISASTER LOANS $27,540
93.044 SPECIAL PROGRAMS FOR THE AGING_TITLE III, PART B_GRANTS FOR SUPPORTIVE SERVICES AND SENIOR CENTERS $19,996
14.231 EMERGENCY SOLUTIONS GRANT PROGRAM $17,982
93.569 COMMUNITY SERVICES BLOCK GRANT $12,395