Finding 2025-002 – Policies and Procedures Require Review and Update – ALN 14.871 Housing Choice Voucher Program, ALN 14.850 Low Rent Public Housing, ALN 14.872 Capital Fund Program – Significant Deficiency Condition & Cause: The Housing Authority has not adequately reviewed and updated several policies and procedures necessary to provide current guidance to employees and ensure compliance with applicable federal requirements and generally accepted internal control practices. Specifically, we noted: 1. The capitalization policy establishes a $500 threshold for capitalization and tracking of nonexpendable equipment. The threshold has contributed to difficulty maintaining an accurate inventory of equipment, including appliances. 2. The investment policy was adopted in December 2009 and has not been updated to reflect current requirements and practices. 3. The Housing Authority does not have a comprehensive financial policies and procedures manual addressing the flow of financial documents, internal controls over Housing Authority assets, authorization procedures, financial reporting responsibilities, and segregation of duties. 4. The Housing Authority does not have a formal conflict-of-interest policy applicable to Board members and employees. 5. The procurement policy was last revised April 23, 2024. The policy states that Board of Commissioners approval is not required for any procurement action. The current policy also establishes informal procurement thresholds of up to $40,000, with requirements for three quotations for purchases between $10,000 and $40,000 and sealed bids for purchases exceeding $40,000. The conditions appear to have resulted from an inadequate process for periodically reviewing and updating policies to reflect changes in federal requirements, HUD guidance, and the Housing Authority's current operations. Criteria: 2 CFR §200.303(a) requires a recipient or subrecipient to establish, document, and maintain effective internal control over Federal awards that provides reasonable assurance of compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of Federal awards. 2 CFR §200.303(c) further requires management to evaluate and monitor compliance and §200.303(d) requires prompt action when instances of noncompliance are identified. With respect to procurement, 2 CFR §200.318(a) requires the recipient or subrecipient to maintain and use documented procurement procedures that are consistent with applicable State, local, and tribal laws and regulations and the Federal procurement standards contained in 2 CFR §§200.317–200.327. 2 CFR §200.318(c)(1) also requires written standards of conduct covering conflicts of interest for employees involved in the selection, award, and administration of contracts. HUD's Public Housing Procurement Handbook 7460.8 states that PHAs are required to establish and follow a written procurement policy consistent with 2 CFR §§200.317–200.327. The Handbook also addresses the authority and responsibility of the PHA Board for approving the procurement policy and delegating procurement authority. The Housing Authority's own Board-approved procurement policy establishes procurement thresholds and procedures that are required to be followed unless properly amended by the Board. Accordingly, the Housing Authority is required to maintain policies that are consistent with applicable Federal requirements and to administer procurements in accordance with its approved policies. Effect: Outdated or incomplete policies increase the risk that employees will not have adequate guidance to perform their responsibilities consistently and that the Housing Authority will not comply with applicable federal, HUD, state, and local requirements. In particular, the absence of comprehensive financial policies and procedures and an updated procurement policy increases the risk of unauthorized transactions, inadequate competition, unsupported procurements, conflicts of interest, inadequate segregation of duties, and inconsistent treatment of Housing Authority transactions. Recommendation: We recommend that the Housing Authority conduct a comprehensive review of all financial, procurement, investment, capitalization, conflict-of-interest, and other significant administrative policies at least annually and whenever applicable federal or HUD requirements change. Specifically, the Housing Authority should: • Revise the capitalization policy and establish a threshold that is practical to administer while maintaining adequate control over material nonexpendable equipment; • Update the investment policy to reflect current requirements and investment practices; • Develop and formally adopt a comprehensive financial policies and procedures manual; • Develop and implement a formal conflict-of-interest policy applicable to Board members, employees, and other applicable parties; • Revise the procurement policy to reflect current federal and HUD requirements, including HUD Handbook 7460.8, Rev. 3 and applicable provisions of 2 CFR Part 200; • Establish clear Board approval requirements for significant procurement contracts and other material commitments; and • Establish a formal process for management and the Board to periodically review and approve policy updates. Questioned Costs: None Repeat Finding: No Was sampling statistically valid? Yes Views of responsible officials: The PHA agrees with the results of the audit and recommendations.