Finding 400 (2022-001)

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Requirement
A
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2022
Accepted
2023-10-19
Audit: 835
Organization: City of Hartwell, Georgia (GA)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The City did not accurately or completely present federal expenditures on the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards for the fiscal year 2022, violating Uniform Guidance requirements.
  • Impacted Requirements: Compliance with Uniform Guidance 2 CFR §200.510(b) is essential for proper reporting of federal expenditures exceeding $750,000.
  • Recommended Follow-up: Implement a policy to ensure federal expenditures are recorded on the Schedule during drawdown requests, and review compliance with Title 2 U.S. Code of Regulations (CFR) Part 200.

Finding Text

Finding 2022-001 Preparation of Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards Federal Agency and Pass-through Entity: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency – Georgia Environmental Finance Authority Program Title/Cluster: Clean Water State Revolving Fund Cluster (CWSRF) Criteria: The Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards is a supplemental schedule to the financial statements required to be produced when the entity is subject to a single audit. The single audit requirement is triggered when the federal expenditures reported on the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards exceed $750,000 or more within an entity’s fiscal year. Uniform Guidance 2 CFR §200.510(b) states “The auditee must prepare a Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards for the period covered by the auditee’s financial statements which must include the total federal awards expended as determined in accordance with §200.502.” Condition: For the year ended December 31, 2022, the City kept records of all expenditures and receipts of funding from drawdown requests together with support of payments and deposits of funds related to all federal expenditures but did not present those expenditures correctly or completely on a Schedule of Expenditure of Federal Awards that met minimum requirements as established by Uniform Guidance 2 CFR §200.510(b). Effect: An accurate representation of total federal expenditures for the fiscal year is required to clearly identify federal expenditures for the audit period. The absence of a complete and accurate Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards for the audit period is noncompliant with the requirements set forth under Uniform Guidance 2 CFR §200.510(b) but does not constitute a significant deficiency or material weakness in internal control over compliance. Questioned Costs: None reported. Recommendation: The City should implement a policy requiring entry of any federal expenditures to the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards as part of the drawdown or pay request processes when submitting expenditures to the Federal Agency or Pass-through Entity providing funding. The procedures should be followed consistently to ensure that federal funds are appropriately accounted for and clearly identifiable for the period in which they occurred. The City of Hartwell should refer to the compliance requirements of Title 2 U.S. Code of Regulations (CFR) Part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principals, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards, and ensure the City meets the minimum Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards requirements as described in 2 CFR §200.510(b).

Corrective Action Plan

RE: Single Audit Corrective Action Plan The City of Hartwell, Georgia respectfully submits the following corrective action plan for the year ended December 31, 2022. Name and address of independent public accounting firm: Williamson and Company, CPAs 611 N Tennessee Street Cartersville, GA 30120 Audit Period: Year ended December 31, 2022 The findings from the December 31, 2022 schedule of findings and questioned costs are discussed below. The findings are numbered consistently with the numbers assigned in the schedule of findings and questioned costs. Findings – Financial Statement Audit MATERIAL WEAKNESS None Reported SIGNIFICANT DEFICIENCY None Reported Findings – Federal Award Programs Audit MATERIAL WEAKNESS None Reported SIGNIFICANT DEFICIENCY None Reported 2022-001 Clean Water State Revolving Fund – ALN: 66.458 Finding: Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards Preparation Recommendation: Procedures should be implemented to ensure completion of an entry to the Schedule of Federal Expenditures of Federal Awards to achieve a reliable reporting of total expenditures for an audit period. Action Taken: We acknowledge our responsibility to present the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards and related notes in accordance with Uniform Guidance requirements. To ensure future implementation of this requirement, the City of Hartwell will record all expenditures on the schedule of federal expenditures going forward on for all federally funded projects. Please call or write if there are any questions/suggestions that you may have to help us further enhance the City’s operations. Sincerely, Audrey Segars Finance Director City of Hartwell, Georgia

Categories

Subrecipient Monitoring Cash Management Material Weakness Reporting Significant Deficiency Internal Control / Segregation of Duties

Other Findings in this Audit

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
66.458 Capitalization Grants for Clean Water State Revolving Funds $1.45M