Finding 375421 (2021-005)

Significant Deficiency Repeat Finding
Requirement
L
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2021
Accepted
2024-03-11
Audit: 294483
Organization: Municipality of Morovis (PR)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The Single Audit Report for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2021, was not submitted on time due to COVID-19 impacts and resource limitations.
  • Impacted Requirements: Compliance with OMB Uniform Guidance, which mandates submission of the audit report and data collection form within nine months post-audit period.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Implement procedures to ensure timely compliance with federal regulations and avoid potential sanctions.

Finding Text

Condition - The Single Audit Report for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2021 was not issued and submitted to the Federal Audit Clearinghouse within nine (9) months after the end of the audit period. Although, a waivers were approved by the OMB delaying the due date, the Data Collection Form and the reporting package were not submitted on a timely basis. Criteria - Uniform Guidance, Section 500.512, states that the audit must be completed, and the data collection form and reporting package must be submitted within of earlier of 30 calendar days after receipt of the auditor’s report, or nine months after the end of the audit period. The Single Audit Reporting Package, as defined and required in 2 CFR 200 for fiscal year ended June 30, 2021, could not be submitted in a timely manner because of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. As further discussed in the Municipality’s Notes to the Basic Financial Statements included in its audited financial statements for the same year, the Municipality’s activities were affected by the Executive Orders issued by the Governor of Puerto Rico, and subsequently a waiver was granted by the OMB through the issuance of Memorandum M-21-20 until September 30, 2022, for period ending June 30, 2021. On September 18, 2022, Puerto Rico was declared a major disaster area under the Stafford Act. Consistent with this declaration and the complications created by Hurricane Fiona, OMB has granted a six-month extension for all single audits that cover recipients in Puerto Rico and have due dates between September 18, 2022 and December 31, 2022. Cause - The Municipality did not comply with the stablished regulation as prescribed in OMB Uniform Guidance and due to the lockdown as a result of COVID-19 pandemic, the Municipality did not have the necessary resources to prepare and submit the reporting package on time. Effect - The Municipality could be sanctioned by Federal Government or Agencies due to the noncompliance with the Single Audit requirements. Recommendation - Procedures should be implemented to ensure that the Municipality complies with the established Federal Regulation, as prescribed by OMB Super Circular Uniform Guidance.

Corrective Action Plan

We concur with the finding. The pandemic caused by the outbreak of COVID-19 disrupted and delayed many accounting and reporting processes during the fiscal year 2020 since the Municipality had to shut down operations for various months. Consequently, several projects and tasks calendarized were postponed or delayed, including certain reports required by Federal Regulations and Uniform Guidance. As disclosed in Comments and Corrective Actions of Finding #2021-001, the Municipality hired an Accounting Firm which is already working with the necessary adjustments, conversions entries and details and subsidiaries to prepare the Municipality’s financial statements for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2022. Expected Implementation Date: a) The financial statements for the fiscal year 2021-2022 are currently in process. We expect to submit a draft for audit during July 2024. b) The Municipality signed with the external accounting firm a professional services contract for the preparation of the financial statements for the fiscal year 2021-2022. The time schedule includes submission to the external auditors of a draft of the financial statements during July 2024 to a final audit report issued on or before September 2024. c) Related to the audit reports for the fiscal years 2022-2023 and 2023-2024, we are planning to complete and submit them in compliance with the Uniform Guidance on or before March 2025. With this schedule the Municipality will be following the Uniform Guidance. Responsible Person: Finance Department Director.

Categories

Reporting

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 375419 2021-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 375420 2021-004
    Material Weakness
  • 375422 2021-005
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 951861 2021-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 951862 2021-004
    Material Weakness
  • 951863 2021-005
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 951864 2021-005
    Significant Deficiency Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
97.030 Community Disaster Loans $1.08M
97.036 Disaster Grants - Public Assistance (presidentially Declared Disasters) $907,650
14.228 Community Development Block Grants/state's Program and Non-Entitlement Grants in Hawaii $533,704
93.575 Child Care and Development Block Grant $433,889
10.558 Child and Adult Care Food Program $149,137
16.738 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program $70,032
14.871 Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers $9,035