Finding 1225861 (2025-005)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
C
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2025
Accepted
2026-08-05

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The Authority drew federal funds in advance of immediate cash needs, leading to noncompliance with cash management requirements.
  • Impacted Requirements: This violates 2 CFR 200.305, which mandates that funds should only be drawn as needed for allowable expenditures.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Strengthen internal controls and implement monitoring procedures to ensure compliance with federal cash management rules.

Finding Text

Finding 2025-005 Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Federal Program Titles: Public Housing Capital Fund Program Federal Assistance Listing Numbers: 14.872 Noncompliance - C. Cash Management Non Compliance Material to the Financial Statements: No Significant deficiency in Internal Control over Compliance for Cash Management Criteria: In accordance with 2 CFR 200.305, payment methods for federal awards must minimize the time elapsing between the transfer of federal funds and the disbursement of those funds by the recipient. Federal funds drawn under the Public Housing Capital Fund Program should be limited to amounts needed to meet the Authority’s immediate cash requirements for allowable program expenditures. Accordingly, the Authority should implement procedures to ensure grant funds are not drawn in advance of actual or imminent eligible expenditures. Condition: The Authority drew down federal funds in advance of immediate cash needs for allowable program expenditures. As of year end, a portion of the funds drawn remained unexpended and was reported as unearned revenue in the financial statements. This indicates that federal funds were received prior to the incurrence of eligible expenditures. Context: During review of the financial statements, the Authority was noted to have unexpended federal funds on hand at year end that had been drawn prior to the disbursement of allowable program costs. Specifically, amounts recorded as unearned revenue represented federal funds received in advance of immediate cash needs. This condition was identified through review of drawdown activity, general ledger balances, and year end financial reporting records. Known Questioned Costs: $134,883 Cause: The Authority did not have adequate internal controls in place to monitor the timing of grant drawdowns in relation to actual program cash needs and allowable expenditures. As a result, federal funds were requested and received prior to the incurrence of eligible costs under the Public Housing Capital Fund Program. Effect: The Authority was not in compliance with federal cash management requirements governing the timing of federal fund drawdowns. As a result, federal funds were held in advance of immediate cash needs, increasing the risk of improper cash management and noncompliance with Uniform Guidance and HUD requirements. Recommendation: We recommend the Authority strengthen its internal controls over cash management to ensure federal funds are drawn only for immediate cash needs related to allowable program expenditures. Management should implement monitoring and review controls over grant drawdown activity, including periodic reconciliation of drawdowns to incurred expenditures, to ensure compliance with 2 CFR 200.305 and HUD requirements. Authority's Response: The Authority accepts the recommendation of the auditor. The Authority will increase oversight in the Public Housing Capital Fund Program to ensure that established internal control policies are being followed on a timely basis.

Corrective Action Plan

Finding 2025-005 Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Federal Program Titles: Public Housing Capital Fund Program Federal Assistance Listing Numbers: 14.872 Noncompliance - C. Cash Management Non Compliance Material to the Financial Statements: No Significant deficiency in Internal Control over Compliance for Cash Management Criteria: In accordance with 2 CFR 200.305, payment methods for federal awards must minimize the time elapsing between the transfer of federal funds and the disbursement of those funds by the recipient. Federal funds drawn under the Public Housing Capital Fund Program should be limited to amounts needed to meet the Authority’s immediate cash requirements for allowable program expenditures. Accordingly, the Authority should implement procedures to ensure grant funds are not drawn in advance of actual or imminent eligible expenditures. Condition: The Authority drew down federal funds in advance of immediate cash needs for allowable program expenditures. As of year end, a portion of the funds drawn remained unexpended and was reported as unearned revenue in the financial statements. This indicates that federal funds were received prior to the incurrence of eligible expenditures. Context: During review of the financial statements, the Authority was noted to have unexpended federal funds on hand at year end that had been drawn prior to the disbursement of allowable program costs. Specifically, amounts recorded as unearned revenue represented federal funds received in advance of immediate cash needs. This condition was identified through review of drawdown activity, general ledger balances, and year end financial reporting records. Known Questioned Costs: $134,883. Cause: The Authority did not have adequate internal controls in place to monitor the timing of grant drawdowns in relation to actual program cash needs and allowable expenditures. As a result, federal funds were requested and received prior to the incurrence of eligible costs under the Public Housing Capital Fund Program. Effect: The Authority was not in compliance with federal cash management requirements governing the timing of federal fund drawdowns. As a result, federal funds were held in advance of immediate cash needs, increasing the risk of improper cash management and noncompliance with Uniform Guidance and HUD requirements. Recommendation: We recommend the Authority strengthen its internal controls over cash management to ensure federal funds are drawn only for immediate cash needs related to allowable program expenditures. Management should implement monitoring and review controls over grant drawdown activity, including periodic reconciliation of drawdowns to incurred expenditures, to ensure compliance with 2 CFR 200.305 and HUD requirements. Authority's Response: The Authority accepts the recommendation of the auditor. The Authority will increase oversight in the Public Housing Capital Fund Program to ensure that established internal control policies are being followed on a timely basis. Ralph Staley, CFO is responsible for ensuring proper internal controls are in place to prevent significant deficiencies and material weaknesses from occurring and is expected to be completed by December 31, 2026.

Categories

Cash Management HUD Housing Programs Internal Control / Segregation of Duties Questioned Costs Subrecipient Monitoring Reporting Significant Deficiency

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1225856 2025-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1225857 2025-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1225858 2025-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1225859 2025-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1225860 2025-004
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
14.871 SECTION 8 HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHERS $30.95M
14.892 CHOICE NEIGHBORHOODS PLANNING GRANTS $11.47M
14.850 PUBLIC HOUSING OPERATING FUND $8.07M
14.872 PUBLIC HOUSING CAPITAL FUND $6.40M
14.895 JOBS-PLUS PILOT INITIATIVE $472,752
14.879 MAINSTREAM VOUCHERS $262,428
14.896 FAMILY SELF-SUFFICIENCY PROGRAM $94,725
14.870 RESIDENT OPPORTUNITY AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES - SERVICE COORDINATORS $40,440