Finding 49897 (2022-002)

Significant Deficiency Repeat Finding
Requirement
E
Questioned Costs
$1
Year
2022
Accepted
2023-04-12

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: Errors in tenant file calculations led to non-compliance with federal regulations regarding eligibility for housing assistance.
  • Impacted Requirements: The Authority failed to properly verify and document family income and expense deductions as required by 24 CFR section 982.516.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: The Authority should enhance internal controls for documentation and calculation reviews to ensure compliance and prevent future errors.

Finding Text

Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Federal Program Name: Housing Voucher Cluster Assistance Listing Number: 14.871/14.879 Award Period: October 1, 2021 ? September 30, 2022 Type of Finding: ? Significant Deficiency in Internal Control over Compliance ? Other Matters Condition: In a population of over 250 tenant files, exceptions were noted in 2 out of 40 files tested. ? In 1 out of 40 files, the Authority used the incorrect base input when calculating the deduction from annual income due to medical expenses. ? In 1 out of 40 files, the Authority used the incorrect base input when calculating annual income. Criteria: For both family income examinations and reexaminations, the PHA must obtain and document in the family file third party verification of (1) reported family annual income; (2) the value of assets; (3) expenses related to deductions from annual income; and (4) other factors that affect the determination of adjusted income or income-based rent (24 CFR section 982.516). Context: Two of the 40 tenant files contained errors. Effect: The Authority is not in compliance with federal regulations regarding eligibility. The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) calculation may be inaccurate resulting in an underpayment or overpayment of HAP. Cause: The Authority did not input the correct values for income and expense deduction calculations. Recommendation: We recommend that the Authority reviews its internal controls over obtaining and maintaining income and expense tenant file documentation and reviewing the calculation to ensure compliance with eligibility requirements. Views of Responsible Officials: There is no disagreement with the audit finding. Questioned Costs: $162 Repeat Finding: The finding is a repeat of a finding in the immediately prior year. Prior year finding number was 2021-001.

Corrective Action Plan

SIGNIFICANT DEFICIENCY 2022-001 Financial Close Process Recommendation: The Authority should re-evaluate its financial reporting system: reviewing the general ledger mapping and close processes. This determines whether additional controls over the preparation of the final trial balances and related schedules can be implemented to provide reasonable assurance that financial statements are prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP and HUD Public Housing Authority accounting briefs. We recommend the Authority to review its current procedures for reconciliations and year end close procedures and evaluate the need for additional review to ensure accurate reporting. Explanation of disagreement with audit finding: While management agrees that improvements are needed, related to the newly implemented financial software the City of Arlington adopted; including mapping of the general ledger and with coordination with the Federal Data Schedule (FDS), management believes actual internal controls are effective as demonstrated by previous audits. The AHA should have until 6/30/2023 to complete the audit. However, because AHA is a component unit of the City, the timeline to complete the audit is much earlier, reducing the time available to complete the corrections needed to account for the new financial software. Action planned in response to finding: Management and the City of Arlington are working with consultants to improve general ledger mapping and crosswalks to the FDS. Name(s) of the contact person(s) responsible for corrective action: Mindy Cochran and Borhan Uddin Planned completion date for corrective action plan: June 30, 2023 2022~002 Housing Voucher Cluster-Assistance Listing No. 14.871/14.879 Recommendation: We recommend that the Authority reviews its internal controls over obtaining and maintaining income, expense tenant file documentation, and reviewing the calculation to ensure compliance with eligibility requirements. Explanation of disagreement with audit finding: There is no disagreement with this finding. However, management maintains that internal controls are effective noting that errors are found and corrected through the internal control processes. Human errors do occur, and internal controls cannot cover the thousands of transactions processed annually. AHA's SEMAP scores consistently recognize AHA as a high performer, scoring all points in indicators 3 and 10 which monitor correct calculations for adjusted income and correct tenant rent calculations. AHA does intend to increase internal audits through the addition of a dedicated compliance staff member. Action planned in response to finding: Both errors have been corrected. The total dollar amount of rental assistance provided was $162 for both errors. AHA is in the process of hiring for additional compliance reviews. Name(s) of the contact person(s) responsible for corrective action: Mindy Cochran Planned completion date for corrective action plan: Corrections have been made for the two files indicated, and hiring for compliance is expected to be complete by June 30, 2023.

Categories

Questioned Costs HUD Housing Programs Eligibility Significant Deficiency Internal Control / Segregation of Duties

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 49898 2022-002
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 49899 2022-002
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 626339 2022-002
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 626340 2022-002
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 626341 2022-002
    Significant Deficiency Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
14.871 Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers $37.63M
14.871 Emergency Housing Vouchers $726,159
14.879 Mainstream Vouchers $509,924
14.239 Home Investment Partnerships Program $351,243
14.267 Continuum of Care Program $286,434
14.896 Family Self-Sufficiency Program $176,063
14.231 Emergency Solutions Grant Program $146,016
14.218 Community Development Block Grants/entitlement Grants $84,774