Finding 1240533 (2024-001)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
P
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2024
Accepted
2026-10-15
Audit: 414979
Organization: Town of Cicero (IL)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The Town failed to meet federal and state financial reporting deadlines for multiple years, including 2024, impacting compliance with grant agreements.
  • Impacted Requirements: Required submissions to the Illinois Comptroller and Federal Audit Clearinghouse were not made on time, risking funding and increasing the chance of financial misstatements.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Continue using the CPA firm for accounting functions and ensure timely preparation of financial statements and reports as per established policies.

Finding Text

Compliance Findings Finding 2024-001 Noncompliance with Federal and State Reporting Requirements Assistance Listing Numbers 21.027 Cornoavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (CSLFRF) Program 14.218 Community Development Block Grant Entitlement Program Federal Agencies U.S. Department of Treasury and Department of Housing and Urban Development Award Number/Year 2024 Criteria The Town has grant agreements from Federal and State of Illinois agencies with terms requiring compliance with financial reporting requirements in accordance with Uniform Guidance, the Illinois Grant Accountability and Transparency Act (GATA), and the Illinois Fiscal Responsibility Report Card Act. As such, for the year ended December 31, 2024, the Town is required to submit audited financial statements, a schedule of expenditures of federal awards (SEFA) and single audit reports to the Federal Audit Clearinghouse; the same audit package plus a Consolidated Year End Financial Report (CYEFR) to the GATA portal; and the audited financial statements and Annual Financial Report to the Illinois Comptroller. Required submissions the Illinois Comptroller are due within six (6) months after the Town’s fiscal year-end. The required submissions to the Federal Audit Clearinghouse and the GATA portal were due within nine (9) months after the Town’s fiscal year-end. Section III - Findings and Questioned Costs Relating to Compliance Over Federal Awards (continued) Condition The Town did not make its required submission to the Illinois Comptroller website prior to the due date of June 30, 2025 and did not make its required submissions to the Federal Audit Clearinghouse and GATA portal prior September 30, 2025. This finding also occurred in 2023 (2023-001), (2022-001) 2021, (2021-002), 2020 (2020-002), 2019 (2019-005) and 2017 (2017‐002). Cause The Town experienced a shortage of personnel in the Department of Financial Affairs during 2020. In response to the personnel shortage, the Town outsourced most of its financial accounting functions to a CPA firm, including preparing the Town’s financial statements, SEFA, CYEFR and other supplementary reports, and this transition required time to complete. Effect The effect is that controls over the financial reporting process were significantly weakened thereby increasing the risk that material misstatements could be included in the financial statements, SEFA, CYEFR and other supplementary schedules without management being aware. Additionally, noncompliance with financial reporting deadlines could cause funding sources for the Town to suspend funding until compliance is achieved. Questioned Costs None noted. Recommendation During 2021 the Town hired a CPA firm to which a majority of the accounting function was outsourced including preparing financial statements, SEFA, CYEFR and other supplementary schedules. We recommend that the Town continue to implement this corrective action plan until financial statements are prepared monthly in a timely manner and the SEFA, CYEFR and other supplementary schedules are prepared annually in a timely manner as prescribed in the Town’s accounting policies and procedures. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions See corrective action plan.

Corrective Action Plan

Corrective Action Plan December 31, 2024 Finding 2024-001 Noncompliance with Federal and State Reporting Requirements Planned Corrective Action The Town has evaluated the resources needed to produce timely financial information and ensure timely completion of records needed to complete annual audits by their due dates. As a result of the evaluation the town has contracted a Finance Director and adequate staff. Contact Person Responsible for Corrective Action David Gonzalez Anticipated Completion Date December 31, 2026

Categories

Reporting

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1240524 2024-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1240525 2024-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1240526 2024-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1240527 2024-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1240528 2024-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1240529 2024-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1240530 2024-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1240531 2024-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1240532 2024-001
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
21.027 CORONAVIRUS STATE AND LOCAL FISCAL RECOVERY FUNDS $536,647
97.044 ASSISTANCE TO FIREFIGHTERS GRANT $394,700
20.600 STATE AND COMMUNITY HIGHWAY SAFETY $19,595
14.218 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANTS/ENTITLEMENT GRANTS $8,000
93.959 BLOCK GRANTS FOR PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE $7,608
14.231 EMERGENCY SOLUTIONS GRANT PROGRAM $1,095