Finding 52187 (2022-003)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
L
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2022
Accepted
2023-07-16
Audit: 50058
Organization: City of Niagara Falls, New York (NY)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The City failed to submit the CAPER on time, breaching federal reporting requirements.
  • Impacted Requirements: Compliance with Title 2 U.S. CFR Part 200, specifically regarding internal controls and timely reporting.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Establish a robust control environment and monitoring process to ensure timely submission of reports in the future.

Finding Text

2022-003: Reporting - Financial and Performance Reporting Criteria - The City is required to establish and maintain an effective control environment and complete timely financial and performance reports per Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance), Subpart D; Section 200.303 Internal Controls to ensure compliance with reporting requirements of the federal award. The City is required to submit a Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER). This report is required to be submitted 90 days after the end of a grantee?s program year. Condition - The City?s Department of Community Development did not establish a control environment over the preparation and submission of the CAPER. The City did not submit the CAPER within the established timeframe required by the federal agency, resulting in noncompliance with the reporting requirements. Cause - The City did not have an established control process in place to appropriately monitor and ensure compliance with these requirements. Effect - The City is not in compliance with the federal program?s financial and performance reporting requirements. Noncompliance could have funding implications in the future. Repeat Finding - This is a repeat finding of 2021-003. Recommendation - We recommend the City?s Department of Community Development establish a control environment over the preparation of their reporting requirements, and a monitoring process to ensure reporting deadlines are met. Management Response - The City is in agreement with this audit finding. While this may be a repeat finding from 202l, the delays in filing the 2022 CAPER were a result of turnover within the department resulting in delays in filing the annual CAPER. The City has procedures in place to complete the report within the guidelines of the program and anticipates completing this report within the required time frame going forward. Estimated Completion Date - Completed

Corrective Action Plan

Name of Auditee: City of Niagara Falls, New York Name of Audit Firm: EFPR Group, CPAs, PLLC Period Covered by the Audit: December 31, 2022 CAP Prepared by: Daniel Morello, City Controller Phone: (716) 286-4346 (A) Current Finding on the Schedule of Findings and Questioned Costs and Recommendations (3) Finding 2022-003 Management's Response The City is in agreement with this audit finding. While this may be a repeat finding from 202l, the delays in filing the 2022 CAPER were a result of turnover within the department resulting in delays in filing the annual CAPER. The City has procedures in place to complete the report within the guidelines of the program and anticipates completing this report within the required time frame going forward. Estimated Completion Date - Completed

Categories

Internal Control / Segregation of Duties Subrecipient Monitoring Allowable Costs / Cost Principles Reporting

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 52186 2022-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 52188 2022-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 52189 2022-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 628628 2022-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 628629 2022-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 628630 2022-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 628631 2022-003
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
21.027 Covid-19 - Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds $9.22M
14.871 Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers $4.47M
14.218 Community Development Block Grants/entitlement Grants $3.18M
16.710 Public Safety Partnership and Community Policing Grants $483,126
14.239 Home Investment Partnerships Program $313,534
14.218 Covid-19 - Community Development Block Grants/entitlement Grants $271,605
14.231 Emergency Solutions Grant Program $159,225
14.856 Lower Income Housing Assistance Program_section 8 Moderate Rehabilitation $45,966
14.231 Covid-19 - Emergency Solutions Grant Program $37,946
20.205 Highway Planning and Construction $6,255