Finding 537278 (2024-006)

Material Weakness
Requirement
F
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2024
Accepted
2025-03-26

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The Town and Utility Boards lack a detailed listing of capital assets with historical cost amounts, which is essential for accurate depreciation calculations.
  • Impacted Requirements: Strong internal controls are not being met due to insufficient historical records, weakening oversight of capital assets.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Conduct a thorough inventory of all capital assets and create a detailed listing that aligns with the general ledger accounts.

Finding Text

CAPITAL ASSET DETAIL - CRITERIA: STRONG INTERNAL CONTROL REQUIRES THAT A DETAILED LISTING OF CAPITAL ASSETS BE MAINTAINED. A DETAILED LSITING OF CAPITAL ASSETS WITH ORIGINAL COST AMOUNTS IS ESSENTIAL TO THE ACCURATE COMPUTATION OF DEPRECIATION EXPENSE. CONDITION: THE TOWN AND UTILITY BOARDS FAILED TO MAINTAIN A DETAILED LISTING OF CAPITAL ASSETS THAT HAVE HSITORICAL COST AMOUNTS. CAUSE: HISTORICAL RECORDS OF THE TOWN AND UTILITY BOARDS ARE INSUFFICIENT TO REGENERATE A DETAILED LISTING OF CAPITAL ASSETS THAT CORRESPOND TO THE ACCOUNT BALANCES CARRIED BY THE TOWN AN DUTILITY BOARDS IN THE GENERAL LEDGER. EFFECT: THE EFFECT OF THIS CONDITION IS THAT INTERNAL CONTROL OVER CAPITAL ASSETS IS WEAKENED. RECOMMENDATION: THE TOWN AND UTILITY BOARDS SHOULD CONDUCT A THOROUGH INVENTORY OF ALL CAPITAL ASSETS. ONCE COMPLETED, THE INVENTORY SHOULD BE USED TO COMPLETE A DETAILED LISTING OF ALL CAPITAL ASSETS AND THIS LISTING AGREED TO THE APPROPRIATE GENERAL LEDGER ACCOUNTS. VIEWS OF RESPONSIBLE OFFICIALS AND PLANNED CORRECTIVE ACTION: MANAGEMENT HAS STATED THAT THEY WILL CREAE A COMPLETE DETAILED LISTING OF ALL CAPITAL ASSETS AND DEPRECIATION SCHEDULES; HOWEVER, RECORDS OF THE TOWN AND UTILITY BOARDS ARE INSUFFICIENT TO ALLOW MANAGEMENT TO COMPARE IT TO EXISTING INFORMATION IN THE ACCOUNTING RECORDS.

Corrective Action Plan

MANAGEMENT HAS STATED THAT THEY WILL CREATE A COMPLETE DETAILED LISTING OF ALL CAPITAL ASSETS AND DEPRECIATION SCHEDULE; HOWEVER, RECORDS OF THE TOWN AND UTILITY BOARDS ARE INSUFFICIENT TO ALLOW MANAGEMENT TO COMPARE IT TO EXISTING INFORMATION IN THE ACCOUNTING RECORDS.

Categories

Equipment & Real Property Management Internal Control / Segregation of Duties

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1113720 2024-006
    Material Weakness

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
11.307 Economic Adjustment Assistance $1.95M