Finding 554889 (2023-001)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
C
Questioned Costs
$1
Year
2023
Accepted
2025-04-11
Audit: 353454
Organization: Arctic Village Tribal Council (AK)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: There are inadequate internal controls over cash management, leading to misuse of funds across different grant programs.
  • Impacted Requirements: This violates 2 CFR 200.305, which mandates that advanced cash payments be used solely for designated grant programs.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: The Village should closely monitor grant budgets and cash drawdowns to prevent inter-program borrowing and ensure compliance with funding requirements.

Finding Text

Finding 2023-001 Lack of Internal Controls over Cash Management Federal Agency: U.S. Department of the Treasury Federal Programs: Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (CSLFRF) Assistance Listing Numbers: 21.027 Award Number: SLFRP3171/4774 Award Years: 2021 Type of Finding: Material weakness in internal control over compliance and material noncompliance. Criteria: The requirement for cash management as contained in 2 CFR 200.305, which states advanced cash payments must be used only for applicable grant programs. Condition and Context: Procedures related to cash management were inadequate to ensure that funds drawn down were not used for other grant expenditures. The Village’s cash balances for all governmental funds amounted to $3,569,292 at September 30, 2023. The unearned revenues were $3,789,475 which resulted in a shortfall of $220,183. The unearned revenue for the CSLFRF Fund was $2,941,712. Cause: Lack of internal controls over cash management. Effect: The Village requested and received advances for various federal programs to cover expenditures. Deposits were used to fund other programs of the Village. Questioned Costs: $220,183, which is the shortfall between cash and investment balances and the unearned revenue balances. Repeat Finding: This is a repeat of finding 2022-001, and since this is a repeat finding we believe this to be a systemic issue. Recommendation: We recommend that the Village monitor grant budgets and drawdowns throughout the year and ensure that program funds are not being lent or borrowed between programs in an effort to ensure that unearned revenue balances do not exceed total cash and investments. Management’s Response: Management concurs with this finding. See corrective action plan.

Corrective Action Plan

Federal Award Findings Finding 2023-001 Lack of Internal Controls Over Cash Management Name of Contact Person: Galen Gilbert, First Chief Corrective Action Plan: AVC staff were unable to complete a drawdown for the HUD grants due to a change in staff. AVC is working with HUD to resolve the matter. AVC staff is currently drawing down all other funds in a timely matter. AVC has limited unrestricted cash. AVC is currently looking for opportunities to increase unrestricted cash, such as increasing prices for gas and electric. Proposed Completion Date: July 31, 2024

Categories

Questioned Costs Cash Management Material Weakness

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1131331 2023-001
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
21.027 Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds $3.34M
16.841 Voca Tribal Victim Services Set-Aside Program $478,134
15.020 Aid to Tribal Governments $251,562
66.926 Indian Environmental General Assistance Program (gap) $155,137
15.021 Consolidated Tribal Government $115,099
15.030 Indian Law Enforcement $111,579
14.867 Indian Housing Block Grants $107,506
15.144 Indian Child Welfare Act Title II Grants $78,195
20.205 Highway Planning and Construction $77,663
93.671 Family Violence Prevention and Services/domestic Violence Shelter and Supportive Services $68,331
15.024 Indian Self-Determination Contract Support $55,457
21.032 Local Assistance and Tribal Consistency Fund $51,823
15.114 Indian Education Higher Education Grant $11,113
15.108 Indian Employment Assistance $4,544