Finding 1223138 (2025-005)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
L
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2025
Accepted
2026-07-08
Audit: 406665
Organization: Puerto Rico Ports Authority (PR)
Auditor: GALINDEZ LLC

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The Authority failed to submit the required data collection form and reporting package on time, missing the March 31, 2026 deadline.
  • Impacted Requirements: This violates compliance requirement 2 CFR 200.512(a)(1), which mandates timely submission of audit reports and related documents.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Establish a clear reporting schedule and consider hiring additional staff to ensure timely financial reporting and compliance.

Finding Text

Finding No: 2025-005 – Late filing of data collection form and reporting package Federal Programs ALN 20.106, Airport Improvement Program ALN 97.036, Disaster Grants - Public Assistance (Presidentially Declared Disasters) ALN 21.027, Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery funds Name of Federal Agency U.S. Department of Transportation - Federal Aviation Administration U.S. Department of Homeland Security U.S Department of Treasury Category Internal Control/Compliance; Significant Deficiency Compliance Requirement Reporting Criteria 2 CFR 200.512 (a) (1) establishes that the audit must be completed, and the data collection form described in paragraph (b) of this section and reporting package described in paragraph (c) of this section must be submitted within the earlier of 30 calendar days after receipt of the auditors' report(s), or nine months after the end of the audit period. Condition The Authority did not submit the required data collection form and reporting package within the required period by March 31, 2026 (9 months after the end of fiscal year). Puerto Rico Ports Authority (A Component Unit of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico) Schedule of Findings and Questioned Costs – (Continued) Year Ended June 30, 2025 - 99 - Part III – Federal Award Findings and Questioned Costs – (continued) Finding No: 2025-005 – Late filing of data collection form and reporting package – (continued) Cause The Authority did not comply with this requirement since the audit of its financial statements, and accordingly its reporting package and procedures, were not ready to be released by the due date. Such delay was mainly attributed to the Authority having difficulties with its timely monthly closings due to its limited personnel in the area of Accounting and Federal Funds Affairs Division. This was enhanced by the early retirement program established under Act No. 80 of August 3, 2020 – “Law for Incentivized Retirement Program and Justice for Our Servants” (Act No. 80) mentioned in findings 2024-003 and 2024-004. Effect Federal grantors were prevented from being informed on a timely basis of the current and previous audits findings, recommendations and corrective action being taken by the Authority. Also there has been a late disclosure about the Authority’s operating results. Consequently, any action, further requirements or request of support from the federal grantor could not be executed on a timely basis or not executed at all. Context The complete audit reporting package including the Data Collection Form, which is an annual requirement, was filed after the corresponding due date. Identification of a repeat finding This is a repeat finding from the immediate previous audit, Finding 2024-005. Questioned costs. None Puerto Rico Ports Authority (A Component Unit of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico) Schedule of Findings and Questioned Costs – (Continued) Year Ended June 30, 2025 Part III – Federal Award Findings and Questioned Costs – (continued) Finding No: 2025-005 – Late filing of data collection form and reporting package – (continued) Recommendation We recommend to the Authority to establish a reporting and filing schedule with the Federal Affairs Division to review filing of required annual reporting in order to ascertain that all team members be aware of due dates, including any extensions, if applicable. Such scheduling must be shared to the corresponding officials at the central government in charge of providing the necessary financial information to be included as part of the Authority’s financial statements. Also, the Authority should evaluate the necessity of additional personnel in the area of Accounting and Federal Funds Affairs Division. In addition, we recommend management to recruit new personnel to assist in the financial reporting process. Such personnel might come from contracting outsourced third-party providers or hiring new or training current personnel to assist in the financial reporting process. Views of responsible officials and planned corrective actions We agreed with the auditors’ finding and recommendation. See

Corrective Action Plan

Finding No. 2025-005 – Late filing of data collection form and reporting package Condition The Authority did not submit the required data collection form and reporting package within the required period by March 31, 2026 (9 months after the end of fiscal year). Views of Responsible Officials and Corrective Actions The Federal Funds Management Office (FFMO) is aware of the deadlines for filing the data collection form and the reporting package, however, as indicated in previous year’s audits, the completion of the required information continues out of their control. In addition, to having difficulties with its monthly accounting closings due to personnel limitations in the Accounting Office, the implementation of new accounting standards, such as GASBs No. 73, N0. 75, No. 87 and others have been additional obstacles to achieve our objective to file the data collection form and reporting package timely. Accordingly, it has not been possible to complete the audit of the financial statements and the single audits for various fiscal years on time, nor to file the data collection form and the reporting packages. In August 2025 and January 2026, the audited financial statements for 2024 and 2025, respectively were issued. Also, the Authority’s management expects to issue the 2026 financial statements during December 2026. Management will continue emphasizing to the FFMO that reports need to be submi􀄴ed on a timely basis. Management will do its best to procure additional personnel for the Accounting and Federal Funds Management Offices. Once a final catch-up of the timely issuance of the audited financial statements is achieved, the required information will be filed within the timeframe established by federal regulations. Name(s) of the Contact Person(s) Responsible for Corrective Action Romel Pedraza Claudio. P.E. – Assistant Executive Director for Planning & Engineering Luis R. Torres Meléndez – Federal Funds Area Officer José Mojica Bonet – Federal Funds Area Officer Anticipated Completion Date Once the Authority catches up with the financial statements’ issuance, the data collection form and reporting package will be filed timely.

Categories

Reporting Significant Deficiency Internal Control / Segregation of Duties

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1223134 2025-004
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1223135 2025-005
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1223136 2025-005
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1223137 2025-006
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1223139 2025-006
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1223140 2025-007
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
20.106 AIRPORT IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM, INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT AND JOBS ACT PROGRAMS, AND COVID-19 AIRPORTS PROGRAMS $41.57M
21.027 CORONAVIRUS STATE AND LOCAL FISCAL RECOVERY FUNDS $6.00M
97.036 DISASTER GRANTS - PUBLIC ASSISTANCE (PRESIDENTIALLY DECLARED DISASTERS) $4.42M
20.500 FEDERAL TRANSIT CAPITAL INVESTMENT GRANTS $899,871
97.039 HAZARD MITIGATION GRANT $825,137