Finding 504817 (2022-003)

Material Weakness
Requirement
J
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2022
Accepted
2024-11-06
Audit: 327510
Organization: Lake County (IN)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The County failed to establish effective internal controls for managing program income, leading to discrepancies between financial records and HUD reporting.
  • Impacted Requirements: Noncompliance with 2 CFR 200.303 and 24 CFR 570.504, which mandate accurate financial reporting and internal controls for federal awards.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Implement a robust internal control system to ensure accurate reporting of program income and regular audits of financial records to prevent future discrepancies.

Finding Text

FINDING 2022-003 Subject: CDBG - Entitlement Grants Cluster - Program Income Federal Agency: Department of Housing and Urban Development Federal Program: Community Development Block Grants/Entitlement Grants Assistance Listings Number: 14.218 Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): B-11-UN-18-0002, B-17-UC-18-0016, B-18-UC-18-0016, B-19-UC-18-0016, B-20-UC-18-0016, B-21-UC-18-0016 Compliance Requirement: Program Income Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Modified Opinion Condition and Context The County received program income through various loan programs it offered to qualifying individuals. Once the County received a loan payment, the receipt was posted into the financial accounting system of the County and recorded in a grant fund. The amount received was also to be recorded in the Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) Integrated Disbursement and Information System (IDIS) website. The recorded program income in the IDIS would then appear on the Drawdown Report by Voucher Number report (PR07). One individual was responsible for notifying the County Auditor's office when program income money was received, so it could be receipted in the County's financial accounting system. The same individual was also responsible for reporting the information on the IDIS site. No internal controls were established to ensure the program income that was recorded in the financial accounting system was also reported on the IDIS site and the PR07 report. Four receipts totaling $38,960 were selected for testing from the County's receipt ledger. The four receipts were unable to be located on the PR07 report provided for audit. However, one of the four receipts was recorded in the IDIS system after information regarding the receipt was requested. In addition, we were unable to verify the total amount recorded in the receipt ledger to the total reported on the PR07 report. The County's ledger was greater than the PR07 report by $30,324 and is primarily attributed to under reporting of program income in the IDIS as identified above. The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were systemic issues throughout the audit period. Criteria 2 CFR 200.303 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must: (a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ." INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 21 LAKE COUNTY SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS (Continued) 2 CFR 200.1 states in part: ". . . Internal controls for non-Federal entities means: (1) Processes designed and implemented by non-Federal entities to provide reasonable assurance regarding the achievement of objectives in the following categories: (i) Effectiveness and efficiency of operations; (ii) Reliability of reporting for internal and external use; . . ." 2 CFR 200.302 states in part: "(a) Each state must expend and account for the Federal award in accordance with state laws and procedures for expending and accounting for the state's own funds. In addition, the state's and the other non-Federal entity's financial management systems, including records documenting compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award, must be sufficient to permit the preparation of reports required by general and program-specific terms and conditions; and the tracing of funds to a level of expenditures adequate to establish that such funds have been used according to the Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. . . . (b) The financial management system of each non-Federal entity must provide for the following: . . . (3) Records that identify adequately the source and application of funds for federallyfunded activities. These records must contain information pertaining to Federal awards, authorizations, financial obligations, unobligated balances, assets, expenditures, income and interest and be supported by source documentation. . . ." 24 CFR 570.504 states in part: "(a) Recording program income. The receipt and expenditure of program income as defined in § 570.500(a) shall be recorded as part of the financial transactions of the grant program. (b) Disposition of program income received by recipients. (1) Program income received before grant closeout may be retained by the recipient if the income is treated as additional CDBG funds subject to all applicable requirements governing the use of CDBG funds. (2) If the recipient chooses to retain program income, that program income shall be disposed of as follows: (i) Program income in the form of repayments to, or interest earned on, a revolving fund as defined in § 570.500(b) shall be substantially disbursed from the fund before additional cash withdrawals are made from the U.S. Treasury for the same activity. (This rule does not prevent a lump sum disbursement to finance the rehabilitation of privately owned properties as provided for in § 570.513.) (ii) Substantially all other program income shall be disbursed for eligible activities before additional cash withdrawals are made from the U.S. Treasury. . . ." INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 22 LAKE COUNTY SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS (Continued) Cause A turnover of staff in the County's Community Development office, and management not ensuring that a system of internal controls that segregated key functions was designed, implemented, and operating effectively, contributed to the program income issue identified above. Effect Without the proper implementation of an effectively designed system of internal controls, the County could not ensure that program income was properly reported and used before the drawdown of federal funds as required. The County could be at risk of losing federal funds by the federal awarding agency due to noncompliance with federal regulations. Questioned Costs There were no questioned costs identified. Recommendation We recommended that the management of the County establish a system of internal controls to ensure that all program income received is properly reported in the IDIS system and expended prior to drawing down federal awards. Views of Responsible Officials For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.

Corrective Action Plan

FINDING 2022-003 Finding Subject: CDBG – Entitlement Grants Cluster—Program Income Summary of Finding: Condition and Context: The County received program income through various loan programs it offered to qualifying individuals. Once the County received a loan payment, the receipt was posted into the financial accounting system of the County and recorded in a grant fund. The amount received was also to be recorded in the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Integrated Disbursement & Information System (IDIS) website. The recorded program income in IDIS would then appear on the Drawdown Report by Voucher Number report (PR07). No internal control process had been established over the program income compliance requirement. One individual was responsible for notifying the Auditor's office when program income money was received, in order for it to be receipted in the County’s financial accounting system. The same individual was also responsible for reporting the same on IDIS site. No controls were established to ensure the program income that was recorded in the financial accounting system was also reported on IDIS site and the PR07 report. Additionally, four receipts totaling $38,960 were selected for testing from the County’s receipt ledger. These four receipts were unable to be located on the PR07 report provided for audit. One of the four receipts was recorded in the IDIS system after information regarding the receipt was requested. The receipt was not in the PR07 report that had been provided for audit when we were provided information documenting it being recorded in IDIS. Furthermore, we were unable to verify the total amount recorded in receipt ledger to the total reported on PR07 report. The County’s ledger was greater than the PR07 report by $30,324 and is primarily attributed to under reporting of program income in IDIS as identified above. Recommendation: We recommended that the management of the County establish a system of internal controls to ensure that all program income received is properly reported in the IDIS system and expended prior to drawing down federal awards. Contact Person Responsible for Corrective Action: Timothy A. Brown Contact Phone Number and Email Address: 219-755-3225 and brownta@lakecountyin.org Views of Responsible Officials: LCCEDD concurs with the audit finding. LAKE COUNTY COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT 2293 N. Main Street - Crown Point, In 46307 Tel. (219) 755-3225 www.lakecountyin.org INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 36 Description of Corrective Action Plan: LCCEDD staff have already adopted changes in internal controls to correct the Program Income reporting deficiencies. The process is as follows: 1. All incoming checks into the department are first reviewed by the Deputy Director. The Deputy Director determines the source of income (i.e. CDBG, HOME, NSP) and the correct receipt type (program income, repayment, homebuyer). The Deputy Director records the IDIS number of the project on the check before giving it to the Fiscal Officer. 2. The Fiscal Officer records the receipt on an internal schedule of receipts and submits the check to the County Auditor with the check deposit form with the IDIS number and correct fund and account number for deposit. 3. Once the County Auditor posts the receipt to the County’s general ledger, the Fiscal Officer records the Auditor’s receipt into HUD’s IDIS Online reporting system. 4. At the close of each quarter, the Fiscal Officer will prepare and submit the Cash on Hand Report within thirty days of the close of the quarter. The Fiscal Officer will reconcile all expenses and receipts posted in the County’s general ledger system with the receipts (report PR09) and drawdown requests (report PR07) in HUD’s IDIS Online reporting system. Before submitting the Cash on Hand Report in the IDIS Online system, the Deputy Director will review and approve the prepared reconciliation and Cash on Hand Report. Any discrepancies between the two systems will be reported to the Auditor and the Department Director to determine corrective actions. 5. Within 30 days of the close of each calendar quarter, the Fiscal Officer will submit the Cash on Hand Report via IDIS Online. The Fiscal Officer will maintain a copy of the Cash on Hand report and the corresponding reconciliation in their program files. 6. On an on-going basis, the Director will meet with Department staff to determine if training or technical assistance is needed to complete HUD reporting requirements in a timely and accurate manner. Anticipated Completion Date: A policy and procedure amendment will be written by the end of this year and presented to the Lake County Redevelopment Commission for their March 2025 meeting for adoption.

Categories

Cash Management Matching / Level of Effort / Earmarking HUD Housing Programs Material Weakness Reporting Program Income

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 504818 2022-004
    Material Weakness
  • 504819 2022-004
    Material Weakness
  • 504820 2022-005
    Material Weakness
  • 504821 2022-006
    Significant Deficiency
  • 1081259 2022-003
    Material Weakness
  • 1081260 2022-004
    Material Weakness
  • 1081261 2022-004
    Material Weakness
  • 1081262 2022-005
    Material Weakness
  • 1081263 2022-006
    Significant Deficiency

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
21.023 Emergency Rental Assistance Program $13.02M
93.563 Child Support Services $4.38M
20.205 Highway Planning and Construction $567,324
97.067 Homeland Security Grant Program $288,943
11.419 Coastal Zone Management Administration Awards $150,000
16.609 Project Safe Neighborhoods $144,235
93.069 Public Health Emergency Preparedness $142,233
16.575 Crime Victim Assistance $139,526
14.239 Home Investment Partnerships Program $101,809
93.323 Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity for Infectious Diseases (elc) $100,000
16.738 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program $98,508
16.588 Violence Against Women Formula Grants $91,445
93.944 Human Immunodeficiency Virus (hiv)/acquired Immunodeficiency Virus Syndrome (aids) Surveillance $80,802
97.042 Emergency Management Performance Grants $72,953
10.555 National School Lunch Program $61,397
21.019 Coronavirus Relief Fund $57,076
14.228 Community Development Block Grants/state's Program and Non-Entitlement Grants in Hawaii $45,528
14.218 Community Development Block Grants/entitlement Grants $45,065
16.922 Equitable Sharing Program $36,333
10.553 School Breakfast Program $34,529
16.000 Domestic Cannabis Eradication and Suppression $30,000
93.747 Elder Abuse Prevention Interventions Program $22,561
15.662 Great Lakes Restoration $13,210
66.469 Geographic Programs - Great Lakes Restoration Initiative $13,161
93.788 Opioid Str $13,000
20.703 Interagency Hazardous Materials Public Sector Training and Planning Grants $12,898
97.012 Boating Safety Financial Assistance $3,750
93.268 Immunization Cooperative Agreements $3,411