Finding 485631 (2023-005)

Significant Deficiency Repeat Finding
Requirement
L
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2023
Accepted
2024-09-03
Audit: 318408
Organization: City of Huntington Park (CA)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The City submitted required financial reports late, violating federal reporting deadlines.
  • Impacted Requirements: Reports include SF-425 and HUD 60002, which must be submitted quarterly and annually, respectively, as per HUD guidelines.
  • Recommended Follow-up: Strengthen internal controls for timely report preparation and review to ensure compliance and accuracy moving forward.

Finding Text

Federal Program Title: Community Development Block Grants/Entitlement Grants Federal Catalog Number: 14.218 Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Category of Finding: Reporting Criteria: Pursuant to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 2 CFR Part 200, Appendix XI, Compliance Supplement May 2023, sections 3.2-L-1 and 4-14.218-10: "Recipients must use the standard financial reporting forms or such other forms as may be authorized by OMB (approval is indicated by an OMB paperwork control number on the form) when reporting to the Federal awarding agency. Each recipient must report program outlays and program income on a cash or accrual basis, as prescribed by the Federal awarding agency." For CDBG, the City is required to submit the following reports: SF-425 - Federal Financial Report C04PR03 - Activity Summary Report C04PR26 - CDBG Financial Summary HUD 60002, Section 3 Summary Report, Economic Opportunities for Low- and Very Low-Income Persons, (OMB No. 2529-0043) Per HUD Notice CPD-12-012, submission of Federal Financal Report - Standard Form 425: "A hard copy (or a pdf file if transmitted electronically) of the SF-425 report shall be submitted to the CDBG recipient's local field office, which will review it for completeness and accuracy... Quarterly Federal Financial Reports (FFRs) must be submitted to the respective field office within 30 days after the end of the reporting period. The following reporting-period end dates shall be used for quarterly reports: 3/31, 6/30, 9/30, or 12/31." Per HUD Section 3 Overview for Recipients of HUD Housing & Community Development Funding: "Annually, each direct recipient of Housing and Community Development funding is required to submit form HUD-60002 to HUD's Economic Opportunity Division in Washington DC. Where the program providing Section 3 covered funding requires the submission of an annual performance report (e.g., Condition: The required quarterly SF-425 Federal Financial Reports and HUD 60002, Section 3 Summary Report were filed after the required deadline. Cause: Lack of sufficient internal control over the timely preparation, review, and submission of the financial and performance reports. Effect or Potential Effect: The City's failure to comply with stated rules and regulations over the required reports increases the risk that inaccurate or incomplete information will be reported. Questioned Cost: None Context: The SF-425 Federal Financial Reports and HUD 60002, Section 3 Summary Report were prepared and submitted after we requested them, which was after these reports were due to HUD. Statistical Sampling Validity: Not applicable. Sampling was not performed in relation to this finding. Repeat of a Prior-Year Finding: Yes, 2020-003, 2019-006, 2018-005, and 2017-006 Recommendation: The City should strengthen its process over the preparation of its reports to ensure the reports are based on the applicable accounting and performance records. City staff should ensure that these reports are not only prepared, but also reviewed for accuracy and completeness prior to submission. The City should have a process to ensure that all required reports are prepared, reviewed, and submitted on a timely basis. Management Response and Corrective Action Plan City's Response: The City submitted the reports late that can cause federal and state funding to be affected. Corrective Action Plan: The City has contracted with third party vendors to ensure timeliness of filing reports. Departments are aware of deadlines and have organized records to meet the deadlines. Planned Implementation Date: Implemented during Fiscal Year 2023. Responsible Person: Finance & Community Development department.

Corrective Action Plan

The City has contracted with third party vendors to ensure timeliness of filing reports. Departments are aware of deadlines and have organized records to meet the deadlines.

Categories

Reporting

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 485628 2023-002
    - Repeat
  • 485629 2023-003
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 485630 2023-004
    Significant Deficiency
  • 485632 2023-006
    Significant Deficiency
  • 485633 2023-007
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 1062070 2023-002
    - Repeat
  • 1062071 2023-003
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 1062072 2023-004
    Significant Deficiency
  • 1062073 2023-005
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 1062074 2023-006
    Significant Deficiency
  • 1062075 2023-007
    Significant Deficiency Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
14.239 Home Investment Partnerships Program $7.48M
21.027 Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds $6.64M
14.218 Community Development Block Grants/entitlement Grants $144,347
16.034 Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding Program $96,079
16.922 Equitable Sharing Program $65,151
20.600 State and Community Highway Safety $25,820
16.607 Bulletproof Vest Partnership Program $3,993