Finding 1223784 (2024-002)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
L
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2024
Accepted
2026-07-15
Audit: 407251
Organization: City of Santa Maria (CA)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: FFATA reports for subgrants were not submitted, violating federal reporting requirements.
  • Impacted Requirements: Non-compliance with the Transparency Act and internal control standards under 2 CFR Part 200.
  • Recommended Follow-up: Establish policies to ensure timely FFATA reporting for all subawards of $30,000 or more.

Finding Text

Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Federal Program Name: Community Development Block Grant Federal Award Identification Number: B-20-MC-6-0545, B-21-MC-6-0545, B-22-MC-6-0545, B-24- MC-6-0545 Assistance Listing Number: 14.218 Award Period: July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024 Type of Finding: Significant Deficiency in Internal Control over Compliance and Other Matter Criteria or Specific Requirement: Under the requirements of the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (Pub. L. No. 109-282), as amended by Section 6202 of Pub. L. No. 110-252, hereafter referred as the “Transparency Act” that are codified in 2 CFR Part 170, recipients (i.e., direct recipients) of grants or cooperative agreements are required to report first-tier subawards of $30,000 or more to the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act Subaward Reporting System (FSRS). Additionally, 2 CFR Part 200 Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Award section 200.303 requires that entities establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in “Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government” issued by the Comptroller General of the United States or the “Internal Control Integrated Framework,” issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Condition: FFATA reports were not filed for subgrants. Questioned Costs: None. Context: FFATA reports were not filed for subgrants for fiscal year 2023-2024. Cause: The Department had turnover during the audit period and did not have adequate staffing to know which reports to submit per the grant agreement. Effect: FFATA reporting was not completed. Repeat Finding: This is not repeat finding. Recommendation: We recommend the City implement policies and procedures to ensure that FFATA reporting occurs for all subawards of $30,000 or more for all federal awards and that the reporting be performed timely. Views of Responsible Officials: The City concurs with the finding.

Corrective Action Plan

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Community Development Block Grant – Assistance Listing No. 14.218 Recommendation: We recommend the City implement policies and procedures to ensure that the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA) reporting occurs for all subawards of $30,000 or more for all federal awards and that the reporting be performed timely. Explanation of disagreement with audit finding: There is no disagreement with the audit finding. Action taken in response to the finding: The Finance Department will ensure that all departments are aware of this compliance requirement and ensure reporting requirements are performed timely in relation to subawards. Name(s) of the contact person(s) responsible for corrective action: Rebecca Campbell, Finance Director Planned completion date for corrective action plan: July 2026

Categories

Subrecipient Monitoring Allowable Costs / Cost Principles Reporting Significant Deficiency Matching / Level of Effort / Earmarking Internal Control / Segregation of Duties

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1223780 2024-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1223781 2024-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1223782 2024-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1223783 2024-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1223785 2024-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1223786 2024-003
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
20.507 FEDERAL TRANSIT FORMULA GRANTS $3.24M
21.027 CORONAVIRUS STATE AND LOCAL FISCAL RECOVERY FUNDS $958,431
20.608 MINIMUM PENALTIES FOR REPEAT OFFENDERS FOR DRIVING WHILE INTOXICATED $192,257
14.239 HOME INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIPS PROGRAM $139,216
14.218 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANTS/ENTITLEMENT GRANTS $117,534
20.509 FORMULA GRANTS FOR RURAL AREAS AND TRIBAL TRANSIT PROGRAM $66,262
97.036 DISASTER GRANTS - PUBLIC ASSISTANCE (PRESIDENTIALLY DECLARED DISASTERS) $36,011
20.600 STATE AND COMMUNITY HIGHWAY SAFETY $441
97.044 ASSISTANCE TO FIREFIGHTERS GRANT $330
45.310 GRANTS TO STATES $287
14.251 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE, COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING, AND MISCELLANEOUS GRANTS $145