Finding 1228658 (2025-007)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
L
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2025
Accepted
2026-09-02
Audit: 410304
Organization: City of Aurora, Colorado (CO)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: Semiannual performance reports for 2025 were submitted late, missing deadlines set by the grant agreement and federal regulations.
  • Impacted Requirements: 2 CFR §§200.328 and 200.329 mandate timely submission of financial and performance reports, which were not met.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Establish a formal tracking process for report deadlines, implement reminders, and retain review documentation to ensure compliance and timely submissions.

Finding Text

Reporting – Financial and Performance Assistance Listing Number 14.251 – Economic Development Initiative, Community Project Funding, and Miscellaneous Grants U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Federal Award Identification Number(s): B-22-CP-CO-0165 and B-23-CP-CO-0280 Award Year – 2022 and 2023 Criteria or specific requirement: 2 CFR §§200.328 and 200.329 require recipients to submit timely financial and performance reports that are supported by underlying records and accurately reflect financial activity and program accomplishments. In addition, the grant agreement requires the grantee to submit a combined semiannual performance and financial report in the Disaster Recovery Grant Reporting (DRGR) system. The report must include a narrative describing accomplishments during the reporting period and must be submitted within 30 calendar days after the end of each six-month reporting period. Condition: During testing, we noted that the semiannual performance reports required to be submitted during calendar year 2025 were not submitted by the required deadlines. The reports, which were due in January 2025 and July 2025, were not submitted until September 2025. As a result, the Grantee did not submit required financial and performance reports within the timeframe prescribed by the grant agreement and 2 CFR §§ 200.328 and 200.329. Additionally, management could not provide evidence of review for one of the reports. Cause: Management was not aware of the semiannual reporting deadlines established by the grant agreement and did not maintain a process to track reporting due dates. As a result, required reports were not submitted within the prescribed timeframes. In addition, the documentation pertaining to the evidence of reviews and the evidence of report submission was not retained. Effect: Failure to submit required financial and performance reports timely reduced the ability of the federal awarding agency to monitor grant activities, evaluate program progress, and ensure compliance with award requirements. In addition, because the federal grant system does not permit drawdowns when required reports are overdue, the delayed submissions prevented the City from requesting reimbursement of eligible grant expenditures on a timely basis, which could adversely affect cash flow and delay project activities funded by the grant. The lack of retained review documentation prevents management from demonstrating that required reviews were performed and increases the risk that errors, omissions, or noncompliance may not be identified and corrected timely. Questioned Costs: None Context: We tested 2 of 4 required semiannual reports and found both were submitted late. A non-statistical sampling methodology was used to select the sample. Identification of a repeat finding, if applicable: N/A Recommendation: We recommend management establish and maintain a formal grant compliance tracking process that identifies all required financial and performance reports, their due dates, and responsible personnel. Management should monitor the tracking schedule throughout the year and implement reminder and review procedures to help ensure all required reports are submitted accurately and timely in accordance with federal requirements and the terms and conditions of the grant award. Additionally, management should retain documentation evidencing the review of reports and supporting records, including the reviewer and date of review, to demonstrate compliance with established review procedures. Views of responsible officials and planned corrective actions: Agree. See separate corrective action plan.

Corrective Action Plan

Reporting – Financial and Performance Assistance Listing Number 14.251 – Economic Development Initiative, Community Project Funding, and Miscellaneous Grants U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Federal Award Identification Number(s): B-22-CP-CO-0165 and B-23-CP-CO-0280 Award Year – 2022 and 2023 Condition: During testing, it was noted that the semiannual performance reports required to be submitted during calendar year 2025 were not submitted by the required deadlines. The reports, which were due in January 2025 and July 2025, were not submitted until September 2025. As a result, the Grantee did not submit required financial and performance reports within the timeframe prescribed by the grant agreement and 2 CFR §§ 200.328 and 200.329. Additionally, management could not provide evidence of review for one of the reports. Planned Corrective Action: Departments that administer grants will establish and maintain a grant tracking process to identify required reporting, due dates, and personnel responsible for the completion and review of the required reporting. This tracking process will be documented and shared with the Controller’s Office. In addition, Departments will maintain documentation of the review and approval of reports as part of the grant documentation. City of Aurora Responsible Party: Stephanie Keiper, Homelessness Division Manager; Matthew Kipp, Manager of Business Services; Tim Sherbondy, Grant Compliance Officer; and Tyra Litzau, Controller Anticipated Completion Date: March 31, 2027

Categories

Cash Management HUD Housing Programs Reporting

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1228657 2025-006
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
20.933 NATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS $6.04M
14.239 HOME INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIPS PROGRAM $3.71M
14.251 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE, COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING, AND MISCELLANEOUS GRANTS $3.20M
66.202 CONGRESSIONALLY MANDATED PROJECTS $2.22M
20.205 HIGHWAY PLANNING AND CONSTRUCTION $1.59M
21.027 CORONAVIRUS STATE AND LOCAL FISCAL RECOVERY FUNDS $1.21M
10.727 INFLATION REDUCTION ACT URBAN & COMMUNITY FORESTRY PROGRAM $754,322
16.922 EQUITABLE SHARING PROGRAM $635,873
97.044 ASSISTANCE TO FIREFIGHTERS GRANT $249,419
16.045 COMMUNITY-BASED VIOLENCE INTERVENTION AND PREVENTION INITIATIVE $187,649
97.036 DISASTER GRANTS - PUBLIC ASSISTANCE (PRESIDENTIALLY DECLARED DISASTERS) $152,436
97.025 NATIONAL URBAN SEARCH AND RESCUE (US&R) RESPONSE SYSTEM $140,040
14.231 EMERGENCY SOLUTIONS GRANT PROGRAM $127,403
59.037 SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTERS $114,896
95.001 HIGH INTENSITY DRUG TRAFFICKING AREAS PROGRAM $64,888
21.016 EQUITABLE SHARING $61,978
16.741 DNA BACKLOG REDUCTION PROGRAM $61,559
14.218 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANTS/ENTITLEMENT GRANTS $60,833
16.609 PROJECT SAFE NEIGHBORHOODS $52,227
20.608 MINIMUM PENALTIES FOR REPEAT OFFENDERS FOR DRIVING WHILE INTOXICATED $51,535
97.132 FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR TARGETED VIOLENCE AND TERRORISM PREVENTION $49,455
20.600 STATE AND COMMUNITY HIGHWAY SAFETY $33,199
14.169 HOUSING COUNSELING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM $26,259
16.738 EDWARD BYRNE MEMORIAL JUSTICE ASSISTANCE GRANT PROGRAM $16,941
16.036 COMPREHENSIVE FORENSIC DNA ANALYSIS GRANT PROGRAM $11,100
20.616 NATIONAL PRIORITY SAFETY PROGRAMS $7,286
16.543 MISSING CHILDREN'S ASSISTANCE $1,784
97.042 EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERFORMANCE GRANTS $714
21.026 HOMEOWNER ASSISTANCE FUND $114
16.607 BULLETPROOF VEST PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM $-644