Finding 501918 (2023-001)

Significant Deficiency
Requirement
E
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2023
Accepted
2024-10-07
Audit: 324075
Organization: City of Clifton (NJ)

AI Summary

  • Answer: Rental checks were issued before confirming tenant eligibility.
  • Trend: This issue may lead to financial discrepancies and compliance risks.
  • List: Ensure checks are only issued after eligibility is confirmed and reconcile all checks accurately in bank statements.

Finding Text

Our audit of the Public Housing Voucher account revealed that rental checks were generated prior to the determination of tenant eligibility. In addition, certain checks issued for eligible tenants prior to year-end were not reflected as outstanding on the bank account reconciliation.

Corrective Action Plan

The Clifton Public Housing Agency has contracted with PHA-Web as the software system managing the Housing Choice Voucher Program. This system allows the PHA to put "on hold" any landlord/tenant payments that are not to be processed due to outstanding requirements such as lease documents, tenant income verification, inspection failures or any other missing information that the PHA may need to process the monthly payment. Therefore, "on Hold" checks are not processed until the tenant/landloard complies with all the requirements. Also, any checks that are released are forwarded to the City's positive pay file for processing.

Categories

Eligibility HUD Housing Programs

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1078360 2023-001
    Significant Deficiency

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
14.871 Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers $3.05M
21.027 Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds $1.93M
14.218 Community Development Block Grants/entitlement Grants $624,086
97.036 Disaster Grants - Public Assistance (presidentially Declared Disasters) $108,118
20.616 National Priority Safety Programs $29,998
16.738 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program $29,049