Finding 1227800 (2025-001)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
P
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2025
Accepted
2026-08-25
Audit: 409774
Organization: Village of Blanchardville (WI)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: Limited staff prevents proper segregation of duties, increasing risk of errors and fraud.
  • Impacted Requirements: Internal controls are not sufficient to prevent or detect intentional or unintentional mistakes.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Implement additional policies and procedures to strengthen key controls in transaction cycles.

Finding Text

Finding #2025-001- Limited Segregation of Duties Condition: The available office staff precludes a proper segregation of duties in the control areas reviewed. Criteria: Segregation of duties is an aspect of internal control intended to prevent or decrease opportunities of intentional and unintentional errors and fraud. Duties and responsibilities are properly segregated if no single individual either has control over all phases of a transaction or can both make and conceal an error, whether such error is intentional or unintentional. Cause: Limited number of personnel. Effect: Errors or intentional fraud could occur and not be detected timely by other employees in the normal course of their responsibilities because of the lack of segregation of duties. Recommendation: We recommend that the Village consider the benefits of implementing additional policies and procedures to address key controls related to its significant transaction cycles. Response: We agree with the finding but do not believe it is cost-effective to increase the office staff in an attempt to bring about a more effective segregation of duties.

Corrective Action Plan

Finding #2025-001- Segregation of Duties Condition: The available office staff precludes a proper segregation of duties in the control areas reviewed. Criteria: Segregation of duties is an aspect of internal control intended to prevent or decrease opportunities of intentional and unintentional errors and fraud. Duties and responsibilities are properly segregated if no single individual either has control over all phases of a transaction or can both make and conceal an error, whether such error is intentional or unintentional. Cause: Limited number of personnel. Effect: Errors or intentional fraud could occur and not be detected timely by other employees in the normal course of their responsibilities because of the lack of segregation of duties. Recommendation: We recommend that the Village consider the benefits of implementing additional policies and procedures to address key controls related to its significant transaction cycles as noted. Response: We agree with the finding but do not believe it is cost-effective to increase the office staff in an attempt to bring about a more effective segregation of duties. Contact Person: Katherine Drake, Village Clerk/Treasurer, 608-523-4521, clerk@blanchardvillewi.gov Anticipated Completion: Not Applicable

Categories

Internal Control / Segregation of Duties HUD Housing Programs

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1227801 2025-002
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
10.760 WATER AND WASTE DISPOSAL SYSTEMS FOR RURAL COMMUNITIES $1.24M
45.025 PROMOTION OF THE ARTS PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENTS $2,500
90.404 HAVA ELECTION SECURITY GRANTS $90