Finding 513087 (2024-002)

Material Weakness
Requirement
P
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2024
Accepted
2024-12-05
Audit: 331022
Organization: Village of Lexington (MI)
Auditor: Uhy LLP

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The Village lacks documented written procedures for key compliance areas required by federal guidelines.
  • Impacted Requirements: Five critical compliance areas are missing procedures, including cost allowability, conflict of interest standards, procurement, technical evaluations, and travel policies.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: The Village should create and implement written policies and procedures, and update the procurement policy to align with federal requirements.

Finding Text

2024-002: Written Policies and Procedures Assistance Listing Number, Federal Agency, and Program Name: Assistance Listing Number 10.760, U. S Department of Agriculture - Water and waste disposal systems for rural communities Federal Award Identification Number and Year: RD Loan 92-12 Loan Period 9/6/23 - 9/1/2063, RD Loan 10 Loan and RD Loan 13 Loan period 1/1/24 - 1/1/2064 Type: Material weakness in internal control and material noncompliance with laws and regulations Repeat Finding: No Criteria: The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) provides requirements for federal awards in 2 CFR Part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance). Under the Uniform Guidance, non-federal entities must have written procedures for five (5) of the compliance areas, if applicable, and it is recommended that entities have written procedures for any of the other applicable compliance areas that are significant to grant administration. Condition: The Village does not have documented written procedures over the required compliance areas. The five areas are procedures for determining the allowability of costs in accordance with Subpart E - Cost Principles of the Uniform Guidance and the terms and conditions of the federal award; standards of conduct covering conflicts of interest and governing actions of employees engaged in the selection, award, and administration of contracts; procurement procedures; procedures for conducting technical evaluations of proposals and selecting recipients; and travel policy stating the lodging and subsistence costs incurred by employees and officers for travel will comply with the non-federal entity’s written travel policy. Identification of How Likely Questioned Costs Were Computed: N/A Known Questioned Costs: None Context: N/A Cause/Effect: The Village controls were not adequate to ensure it followed the federal requirement over these processes. Recommendation: We recommend the Village adopt written policies and procedures. In addition, we recommend that management review and modify the procurement policy to include all the necessary items outlined in the Uniform Guidance. View of responsible officials and planned corrective action plan: See attached corrective action plan.

Corrective Action Plan

While the Village of Lexington followed current internal controls for all aspects of the federal awards granted, we did not adopt a document that covered all five compliance areas as outlined in the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards. A written policy and procedure document will be adopted by the Council by December 31, 2024.

Categories

Matching / Level of Effort / Earmarking Procurement, Suspension & Debarment Allowable Costs / Cost Principles Material Weakness

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 513088 2024-003
    Material Weakness
  • 1089529 2024-002
    Material Weakness
  • 1089530 2024-003
    Material Weakness

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
10.760 Water and Waste Disposal Systems for Rural Communities $1.43M
97.044 Assistance to Firefighters Grant $107,746
21.027 Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds $10,304