Finding 20464 (2022-002)

Material Weakness
Requirement
AB
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2022
Accepted
2023-05-02
Audit: 24560
Organization: Town of Edinburgh (IN)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The Town lacked proper internal controls for reviewing vendor invoices, risking noncompliance with grant requirements.
  • Impacted Requirements: Compliance with 2 CFR 200.303 regarding effective internal control over Federal awards was not met.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Management should implement a system of internal controls, including segregation of duties, to ensure compliance with grant agreements.

Finding Text

FINDING 2022-002 Subject: Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) Cluster - Activities Allowed or Unallowed, Allowable Costs/Cost Principles Federal Agency: Environmental Protection Agency Federal Program: Capitalization Grants for Drinking Water State Revolving Funds Assistance Listings Number: 66.468 Federal Award Number and Year (or Other Identifying Number): DW211014101 Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Finance Authority Compliance Requirements: Activities Allowed or Unallowed, Allowable Costs/Cost Principles Audit Finding: Material Weakness Condition and Context The Town failed to properly design and implement a review of the invoices paid to one vendor during the audit period. Although one employee reviewed the invoices prior to them being sent to the Indiana Finance Authority for payment, there was no secondary review to ensure the expenditures were for an allowable activity or an allowable cost. This vendor accounted for 4 of the 17 (24 percent) claims paid from the grant funds. The lack of internal controls was isolated to the vendor noted above. Criteria 2 CFR 200.303 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must: (a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ." Cause Management had not developed a system of internal controls, which would include segregation of duties, that would have ensured compliance with the grant agreement and the Activities Allowed or Unallowed and the Allowable Costs/Cost Principles compliance requirements. Effect The failure to establish an effective internal control system placed the Town at risk of noncompliance with the grant agreement and the Activities Allowed or Unallowed and the Allowable Costs/Cost Principles compliance requirements. Questioned Costs There were no questioned costs identified. Recommendation We recommended the Town's management establish a system of internal controls, which would include segregation of duties, related to the grant agreement and the Activities Allowed or Unallowed and the Allowable Costs/Cost Principles compliance requirements. Views of Responsible Officials For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.

Corrective Action Plan

FINDING 2022-002 Contact Person Responsible for Corrective Action: Scott Finley Contact Phone Number: 812-526-3511 Contact E-mail: sfinley@edinburgh.in.us View of responsible official: The town concurs with the Section III finding identified. Description of Corrective Action Plan: For SRF disbursements related to construction, the town?s engineers review the pay applications and are sent to the town for review. The pay app is submitted to the council for review and approval. Upon approval, the Clerk-Treasurer signs the pay app and submits it to SRF for disbursement. Moving forward, the town council president will sign the pay app rather than the Clerk-Treasurer. For SRF Disbursements related to engineering, the invoice is reviewed by the Town Manager and Clerk- Treasurer and then submitted to SRF for disbursement. Moving forward, these invoices will be processed similarly to the construction pay apps. These invoices will be reviewed by the Town Manager and Clerk- Treasurer and then submitted to the council for approval. After council approval they will be submitted to SRF for disbursement. The town will also request that the engineers add a signature page to their invoices so they can be signed off on. Anticipated Completion Date: Process will be implemented immediately.

Categories

Allowable Costs / Cost Principles Internal Control / Segregation of Duties Subrecipient Monitoring Material Weakness Matching / Level of Effort / Earmarking

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 596906 2022-002
    Material Weakness

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
66.468 Capitalization Grants for Drinking Water State Revolving Funds $2.66M
14.228 Community Development Block Grants/state's Program and Non-Entitlement Grants in Hawaii $638,000
20.205 Highway Planning and Construction $1,320