Finding 1239915 (2025-008)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
ABCI
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2025
Accepted
2026-10-05
Audit: 414585
Organization: City of Muskegon Heights (MI)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The City lacks formal written policies required by the Uniform Grant Guidance for managing federal funds.
  • Impacted Requirements: Key areas include payments, procurement, cost allowability, compensation, and travel costs.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: The City should expedite the review and approval of draft policies to ensure compliance.

Finding Text

2025-008 – Written Policies and Procedures Required by the Uniform Grant Guidance (Repeat Finding) Finding Type. Immaterial Noncompliance/Significant Deficiency in Internal Control over Compliance (Allowable Costs/Cost Principles, Cash Management, and Procurement, Suspension and Debarment) Program. Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds; U.S. Department of Treasury; ALN 21.027; Award Numbers DW-7731A, DW-7640A, and DW-7686A. Criteria. The Uniform Guidance requires a non-federal entity that has expended federal awards for a grant awarded on or after December 26, 2014 to have written policies pertaining to various areas, including: 1) Payments (draws of federal funds and how to minimize the time elapsing between the receipt of federal funds and the disbursement to contractors/employees/subrecipients) (§200.302 (6)); 2) Procurement (including bidding and a conflict of interest policy) (§200.318); 3) Allowability of costs charged to federal programs (§200.302 (7)); 4) Compensation (personnel and benefits policy) (§200.430 and §200.431); and 5) Travel costs (including mileage and per diem) (§200.474). Condition. Although the City has processes in place to cover these areas and draft policies have been developed, there are no formal written policies that address all of the areas required by the Uniform Guidance. Cause. This condition appears to be the result of a time lag in identifying the requirement and developing a plan for compliance. Effect. As a result of this condition, the City did not fully comply with the Uniform Guidance applicable to the above noted grants. Questioned Costs. No costs were required to be questioned as a result of this finding inasmuch as our testing did not reveal any unallowed costs or excess cash draws. Recommendation. We recommend that the City review and approve the draft policies as soon as practical. View of Responsible Officials. The City agrees with the audit finding. A corrective action plan has been prepared.

Corrective Action Plan

2025-008 – Written Policies and Procedures Required by the Uniform Grant Guidance (Repeat Finding) Auditor Description of Condition and Effect. Although the City has processes in place to cover these areas and draft policies have been developed, there are no formal written policies that address all of the areas required by the Uniform Guidance. As a result of this condition, the City did not fully comply with the Uniform Guidance applicable to the above noted grants. Auditor Recommendation. We recommend that the City review and approve the draft policies as soon as practical. Corrective Action. City staff has reviewed drafts and will submit to City Council Uniform Grant Guidelines to be adopted. Responsible Person. Finance Director Anticipated Completion Date. December 31, 2026

Categories

Procurement, Suspension & Debarment

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1239910 2025-007
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1239911 2025-007
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1239912 2025-007
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1239913 2025-008
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1239914 2025-008
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
21.027 CORONAVIRUS STATE AND LOCAL FISCAL RECOVERY FUNDS $7.08M
14.218 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANTS/ENTITLEMENT GRANTS $204,711
66.468 DRINKING WATER STATE REVOLVING FUND $171,976