Finding 485768 (2023-008)

Material Weakness
Requirement
L
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2023
Accepted
2024-09-05

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The Town reported cumulative expenditures that were about $134,000 higher and obligations overstated by $85,000 due to a lack of reconciliation with the general ledger.
  • Impacted Requirements: Compliance with 2 CFR section 200.328, which mandates accurate reporting of program outlays and income.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Establish procedures to ensure financial information is reconciled between the Project and Expenditure reports and the general ledger before submission.

Finding Text

2023-008 U.S. Department of Treasury COVID-19 – Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds – ALN 21.027 Material Weakness in Internal Controls over Compliance and Compliance Finding Criteria: Per 2 CFR section 200.328 of the Uniform Guidance, each recipient must report program outlays and program income on a cash or accrual basis, as prescribed by the federal agency. The compliance supplement identified four Key Line Items required to be reported to the federal awarding agency which include (1) current period obligation, (2) cumulative obligation, (3) current period expenditure and (4) cumulative expenditure. Condition: As of the March 31, 2023 reporting date, the Town’s Project and Expenditure report had reported cumulative expenditures that were approximately $134,000 more than what was recorded in the grant fund on the general ledger. In addition, obligations were overstated by approximately $85,000. Cause: The Town did not reconcile the Project and Expenditure report with the Town’s general ledger before submitting. Additionally, the Town did not have a clear understanding of reporting requirements for obligations. Effect: The Town did not properly report grant expenditures in the appropriate fund in the Town’s general ledger and obligations were overstated in the Project and Expenditure reporting. Questioned Costs: None Repeat Finding from Prior Year: No Recommendation: The Town should implement procedures to reconcile the financial information in the Project and Expenditure reports to the Town’s general ledger and contract files before submission. Views of Responsible Official: Management agrees with the finding.

Corrective Action Plan

Material Weakness in Internal Controls over Compliance Condition: As of the March 31, 2023 reporting date, the Town’s Project and Expenditure report had reported cumulative expenditures that were approximately $134,000 more than what was recorded in the grant fund on the general ledger. In addition, obligations were overstated by approximately $85,000. Corrective Action Planned: ARPA funds were tracked on a spreadsheet by the DPW Director. Reporting was done using the spreadsheet. Later, it was found the expenses didn’t match up to GL. We will use the GL for reporting purposes in the future. Anticipated Completion Date: Next submitted reporting Contact: Katie Medina, Town Accountant

Categories

Material Weakness Reporting Program Income Internal Control / Segregation of Duties

Other Findings in this Audit

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
21.027 Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds $1.10M
84.425 Education Stabilization Fund $620,099
14.228 Community Development Block Grants/state's Program and Non-Entitlement Grants in Hawaii $279,729
10.553 School Breakfast Program $237,508
97.036 Disaster Grants - Public Assistance (presidentially Declared Disasters) $143,030
84.027 Special Education_grants to States $60,716
66.040 State Clean Diesel Grant Program $43,934
10.555 National School Lunch Program $31,080
84.010 Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies $24,628
84.367 Improving Teacher Quality State Grants $11,416
84.173 Special Education_preschool Grants $1,937
84.424 Student Support and Academic Enrichment Program $1,852