Finding 503395 (2024-003)

Significant Deficiency Repeat Finding
Requirement
L
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2024
Accepted
2024-10-22
Audit: 325552
Organization: City of Ottawa (IL)
Auditor: Wipfli LLP

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The City failed to prepare a complete Schedule of Federal Awards, missing required federal expenditures as per 2 CFR Part 200.502.
  • Impacted Requirements: Incomplete records hindered the verification of expenditures in financial statements, affecting audit compliance.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Establish processes to track all federal funding and expenditures, with regular reconciliations to ensure accuracy and compliance.

Finding Text

Criteria or Specific Requirement: Under 2 CFR Part 200.502, the auditee must prepare the Schedule of Federal Awards to cover the appropriate audit period and to include all applicable federal expenditures expended during the audit period. Condition: The City has not historically created or provided a Schedule of Federal Awards for audit purposes and did not include all federa expenditures as required under 2 CFR Part 200.502. Context: The City did not have all federal expenditures recorded in their trial balance, and did not have accurate records of all expenditures spent during the audit period. In addition, they did not have all of the necessary information or training to create the Schedule of Federal Awards. Questioned Costs: None Effect: The City was unable to provide auditors with a complete Schedule of Federal Awards, and could not verify the completeness of expenditures recorded in their financial statements as provided for the audit. Cause: The City does not have processes in place to track all grant spending. Repeat: Yes Auditor's Recommendation: We recommend that the City create processes and procedures that capture all federal funding received, and track applicable expenditures. This report should be reconciled regularly (at least monthly) when requests for reimbursement are made, and should include all applicable information necessary to identify the funding agency, assistance listing number, and any other pertinent passthrough information. With this process in place, the City will be better able to track and monitor grant funding, plan future projects or future funding needs, and prepare for the annual audit. View of Responsible Officials: Management agrees with the auditor's finding and has developed a corrective action plan. See last pages of this report.

Corrective Action Plan

Corrective Action Plan: Management agrees with the Auditor’s recommendations. The City has discussed this finding with our former auditors. Accounting staff and City grant personnel will work with third parties working with grants for the City to more frequently receive information and update the City's records accordingly. Person(s) Responsible (Name, title): Donald Harris, City Treasurer and Shelly Munks, City Clerk Timing for Implementation: Ongoing

Categories

Cash Management

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1079837 2024-003
    Significant Deficiency Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
20.509 Formula Grants for Rural Areas and Tribal Transit Program $369,322
14.228 Community Development Block Grants/state's Program and Non-Entitlement Grants in Hawaii $341,443
97.047 Pre-Disaster Mitigation $32,545
21.027 Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds $30,000
20.205 Highway Planning and Construction $6,858