Finding 1223064 (2025-001)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
P
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2025
Accepted
2026-07-07
Audit: 406640
Organization: City of Ely, Minnesota (MN)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The City lacks proper segregation of duties in accounting due to limited personnel.
  • Impacted Requirements: Inadequate internal controls over transactions increase the risk of errors and fraud.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Management should strive to segregate duties where possible and enhance oversight to mitigate risks.

Finding Text

2025-001. SEGREGATION OF DUTIES Criteria The concentration of duties and responsibilities in a limited number of individuals is not desirable from an internal accounting control point of view. Condition Due to the limited number of personnel within the City’s administration office, the segregation of accounting functions necessary to ensure adequate internal accounting control is not possible. Effect Because of the weakness in segregation of duties, the City has not provided adequate internal control over transactions. Cause This occurred because of staffing limitations caused by fiscal constraints. Recommendations Officials and management of the City should constantly be aware of this condition, attempt to segregate duties as much as possible, and provide oversight to partially compensate for this deficiency. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Action Management agrees with the audit finding. The City Clerk-Treasurer will continue to monitor transactions and the City’s administration will structure the duties of office personnel to help ensure as much segregation of duties as possible within the City’s staffing limitations and funding constraints.

Corrective Action Plan

Finding Number: 2025-001 Name of Contact Person: Harold Langowski, City Clerk-Treasurer Corrective Action Planned: Clerk-Treasurer will attempt to monitor transactions and structure the duties of office personnel to help ensure as much segregation of duties as possible within the City’s staffing limitations and funding constraints. Anticipated Completion Date: Management has been monitoring transactions and reviewing the duties of office personnel on an ongoing basis.

Categories

Internal Control / Segregation of Duties

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
11.307 ECONOMIC ADJUSTMENT ASSISTANCE $810,774
14.218 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANTS/ENTITLEMENT GRANTS $231,747
20.106 AIRPORT IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM, INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT AND JOBS ACT PROGRAMS, AND COVID-19 AIRPORTS PROGRAMS $102,417
20.219 RECREATIONAL TRAILS PROGRAM $75,000
10.698 STATE & PRIVATE FORESTRY COOPERATIVE FIRE ASSISTANCE $5,000
16.607 BULLETPROOF VEST PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM $1,098
97.036 DISASTER GRANTS - PUBLIC ASSISTANCE (PRESIDENTIALLY DECLARED DISASTERS) $1,073
93.959 BLOCK GRANTS FOR PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE $500