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Finding 2022-004 ? Failure to Execute Intergovernmental Agreements Federal Agency: U.S. Department of the Treasury (Passed through the State of Illinois) Federal Program Name: COVID-19 Homeowner Assistance Fund (HAF) / COVID-19 State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) Assistance Listing Numbers: 21.026 / 21.027 Federal Award Information Number and Year: None Award Period: July 1, 2021, to June 30, 2022 Type of Finding: Significant Deficiency in Internal Control over Compliance CRITERIA OR SPECIFIC REQUIREMENT Uniform Guidance (2 CFR section 200.1) defines a subrecipient as `an entity, usually but not limited to nonfederal entities, that receives a subaward from a pass-through entity to carry out part of a federal award.? This relationship between pass-through entity and subrecipient must be formalized in a written agreement communicating the identification of the federal award, as well as all requirements imposed by the pass-through entity. The Uniform Grant Guidance (2 CFR 200.303) requires nonfederal entities receiving federal awards to establish and maintain internal controls designed to reasonably ensure compliance with federal laws, regulations, and program compliance requirements. Effective internal control should include procedures to ensure agreements are in place between pass-through entity?s and subrecipients before funding is received and programs carried out. CONDITION The Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA, or the Authority) did not execute an intergovernmental agreement with other State of Illinois agencies before being subgranted funding for the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) and Housing Assistance Fund (HAF) programs. QUESTIONED COSTS: None CONTEXT During our testwork over the SLFRF and HAF programs, we requested IHDA provide us with the grant agreement / subrecipient agreements between IHDA and other State of Illinois agencies who passed through SLFRF and HAF funding to the Authority during fiscal year 2022. After discussion with Authority management, we learned that no such subrecipient agreements / intergovernmental agreements were executed for the SLFRF and HAF funding IHDA received. CAUSE Authority?s management stated during fiscal year 2022, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and in order to disburse emergency funding as quickly as possible, the Authority and the Illinois Department of Revenue followed the existing written internal control processes and procedures in place between the agencies with respect to drawing HAF and SLFRF money from Fund 286 in order to operate the programs. EFFECT Failure to notify subrecipients of all required federal award information could result in subrecipients improperly omitting expenditures from their schedules of expenditures of federal awards, expending federal funds for unallowable purposes, or not receiving a single audit in accordance with Uniform Grant Guidance. Additionally, failure to formalize agreements between entities could lead to disputes as to who was responsible for carrying out federal programs. (Finding Code No. 2022-004) RECOMMENDATION We recommend the Authority obtain intergovernmental agreements with other State of Illinois agencies before being subgranted funding. AUTHORITY RESPONSE The Authority is in the process of working with Illinois Department of Revenue to obtain an agreement for fiscal year 2023. Unless extraneous circumstances prevent the Authority from obtaining an agreement in a timely manner, the Authority will ensure intergovernmental agreements exist before commencing new program administration. The Authority will implement new policies and procedures to strengthen control.