Finding 540536 (2024-006)

Significant Deficiency
Requirement
L
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2024
Accepted
2025-03-28

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The Department failed to comply with grant reporting requirements, specifically not completing the recipient share section in all tested reports.
  • Impacted Requirements: Non-compliance with 2 CFR Part 200 regarding financial management and internal controls, affecting the accuracy and completeness of federal award reporting.
  • Recommended Follow-up: Establish and maintain effective internal controls and procedures for financial grant management to ensure timely and accurate reporting.

Finding Text

2024-006 REPORTING Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Homeland Security/FEMA Federal Program Title & Assistance Listing Number: Disaster Grants - Public Assistance (Presidentially Declared Disasters) - 97.036 Emergency Management Performance Grants - 97.042 Award Period: Various Type of Finding: Significant Deficiency in Internal Control over Compliance Other Non-compliance Questioned Costs: Unknown Condition: We noted the Department was not in compliance with requirements related to the reporting of grants. ALN 97.042 The Department did not complete the recipient share section of the federal financial reports for 4 out of 4 reports tested. ALN 97.036 We reviewed files for 5 subrecipients, from which there were 16 ongoing projects during fiscal year 2024. Of these, 4 of the 16 projects did not have evidence of the required reporting for Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA). Criteria According to §200.302 Financial management of 2 CFR Part 200, 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. Further, the financial management system of each non-Federal entity must provide accurate, current, and complete disclosure of the financial results of each Federal award or program in accordance with the reporting requirements. According to §200.303 Internal controls of 2 CFR Part 200, the non- Federal entity must 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. Effect. The auditor noted instances of noncompliance. Non-compliance may result in delayed reimbursement of eligible federal expenditures or the potential loss of federal funding. Cause The Department lacks established internal controls and procedures over financial grant management to ensure submitted reports are complete, agree to supporting spreadsheets, submitted timely, and properlv maintained in the files of the Department.

Corrective Action Plan

Recommendation We recommend the Department review the instructions for completion of the federal financial reports with training provided to the program staff preparing and reviewing the federal financial reports to ensure submitted reports are complete. We recommend the Department implement effective processes and procedures to maintain the submitted reports and the documentation used to prepare the reports in the files of the Department. Management Response Corrective Action: The Department understands the issues and is continuing to take corrective action to improve reporting. In the past the Department has shifted its priority to onboarding across the Department, and we have onboarded a Grants Unit Manager to oversee the reporting requirements of all federal grants. The Grants Unit will focus on procedures to ensure the reporting requirements are met. A procedural checklist will be implemented to ensure that: 1. the recipient share section is completed, 2. that financial reports are submitted to the Department timely, and 3. all Performance Progress Reports as submitted. Due Date of Completion: June 30, 2025 Responsible Person(s): Deputy Cabinet Secretary, Grants Unit Manager

Categories

Reporting Subrecipient Monitoring Cash Management Significant Deficiency Matching / Level of Effort / Earmarking

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 540529 2024-004
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 540530 2024-004
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 540531 2024-004
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 540532 2024-004
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 540533 2024-005
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 540534 2024-005
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 540535 2024-005
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 540537 2024-006
    Significant Deficiency
  • 540538 2024-007
    -
  • 1116971 2024-004
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1116972 2024-004
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1116973 2024-004
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1116974 2024-004
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1116975 2024-005
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 1116976 2024-005
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 1116977 2024-005
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 1116978 2024-006
    Significant Deficiency
  • 1116979 2024-006
    Significant Deficiency
  • 1116980 2024-007
    -

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
97.036 Disaster Grants - Public Assistance (presidentially Declared Disasters) $149.18M
97.039 Hazard Mitigation Grant $58.14M
97.067 Homeland Security Grant Program $6.23M
97.042 Emergency Management Performance Grants $5.22M
97.008 Non-Profit Security Program $630,343
97.047 Bric: Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities $440,909
20.703 Interagency Hazardous Materials Public Sector Training and Planning Grants $111,785
97.023 Community Assistance Program State Support Services Element (cap-Ssse) $65,001
14.218 Community Development Block Grants/entitlement Grants $38,841