Finding 479800 (2023-004)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
L
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2023
Accepted
2024-07-31
Audit: 316317
Organization: Miami County (IN)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The County lacks effective internal controls over the reporting of COVID-19 funds, leading to a material weakness in compliance.
  • Impacted Requirements: The County failed to meet the internal control standards outlined in 2 CFR 200.303, which are essential for accurate reporting to the Treasury.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Management should establish a robust system of internal controls and procedures to ensure accurate and complete reporting of Project and Expenditure data.

Finding Text

FINDING 2023-004 Subject: COVID-19 - Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds - Reporting Federal Agency: Department of the Treasury Federal Program: COVID-19 - Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds Assistance Listings Number: 21.027 Federal Award Number and Year (or Other Identifying Number): FY 2023 Compliance Requirement: Reporting Audit Finding: Material Weakness Repeat Finding This is a repeat finding from the immediately prior audit report. The prior audit finding number was 2022-004. Condition and Context Recipients are required to submit quarterly or annually Project and Expenditure (P&E) reports to the U.S. Department of the Treasury (Treasury). The reporting periods, as well as the respective due dates, are based upon type of recipient and its population, as well as the recipient's allocation amount. Information to be reported includes projects funded, expenditures, and contracts for the appropriate reporting period. The County was classified as a county with a population below 250,000 residents that received an allocation of less than $10 million in State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds. As such, the P&E report, covering the period from April 1, 2022 to March 31, 2023, was required to be submitted to the Treasury by April 30, 2023. The County submitted the P&E report by April 30, 2023, as required; however, there were no internal controls in place that would likely be effective in preventing, or detecting and correcting, noncompliance related to the P&E report. The County Auditor prepared and submitted the report without an oversight or review process. The lack of internal controls was a systemic issue throughout the audit period. 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 awards 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 The County did not implement an effectively designed system of internal controls over reporting. There was no indication of internal controls in place over reporting. INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 20 MIAMI COUNTY SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS (Continued) Effect Without the proper implementation of an effectively designed system of internal controls over reporting, the County cannot ensure that the reports submitted are materially accurate and correct. If there was a proper implementation of an effectively designed system of internal controls over reporting, the County would have been able to detect any errors prior to submission. Questioned Costs There were no questioned costs identified. Recommendation We recommended that management of the County design and implement a proper system of internal controls, including policies and procedures to ensure that the County provides the Treasury with complete and accurate information for the P&E report. 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 2023-004 Finding Subject: COVID-19 – Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds – Reporting Summary of Finding: The County submitted the P&E report by April 30, 2023, as required; however, there were no internal controls in place that would likely be effective in preventing, or detecting and correcting, noncompliance related to the P&E report. The County Auditor prepared and submitted the report without an oversight or review process. We recommended that management of the County design and implement a proper system of internal controls, including policies and procedures to ensure that the County provides the Treasury with complete and accurate information for the P&E report. Contact Person Responsible for Corrective Action: Mary Brown Contact Phone Number and Email Address: 765-472-3901 Ext. 1240 and mbrown@miamicountyin.gov Views of Responsible Officials: We concur with the finding. Description of Corrective Action Plan: Due to an oversight, the reporting for ARPA funding was not reviewed by another person after entering the data for reporting. It was my understanding, based on data entered when initial reporting began, a copy of the information also went to the Chairman of Board of Commissioners, however, it was later determined a copy was not sent. For future reporting, we will ensure someone else reviews the information prior to final submission. Anticipated Completion Date: January 2025

Categories

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

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 479799 2023-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1056241 2023-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1056242 2023-004
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
21.027 Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds $741,413
93.563 Child Support Enforcement $360,765
20.526 Buses and Bus Facilities Formula, Competitive, and Low Or No Emissions Programs $337,404
20.509 Formula Grants for Rural Areas and Tribal Transit Program $314,725
93.354 Public Health Emergency Response: Cooperative Agreement for Emergency Response: Public Health Crisis Response $248,350
20.205 Highway Planning and Construction $211,533
16.575 Crime Victim Assistance $37,763
93.069 Public Health Emergency Preparedness $28,803
97.042 Emergency Management Performance Grants $20,961
97.047 Pre-Disaster Mitigation $17,000
93.658 Foster Care_title IV-E $5,565
15.226 Payments in Lieu of Taxes $5,069
14.228 Community Development Block Grants/state's Program and Non-Entitlement Grants in Hawaii $4,080
20.600 State and Community Highway Safety $2,965
93.323 Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity for Infectious Diseases (elc) $965