Finding 569319 (2024-002)

Material Weakness
Requirement
N
Questioned Costs
$1
Year
2024
Accepted
2025-06-30
Audit: 360842
Organization: Housing Authority of Florence (AL)
Auditor: Aprio LLP

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: Two drawdown vouchers lacked sufficient documentation, raising concerns about eligibility and compliance with federal funding requirements.
  • Impacted Requirements: Non-Federal entities must provide adequate documentation for drawdowns and ensure funds are drawn only for immediate needs, as outlined in 2 CFR §200.302 and §200.305.
  • Recommended Follow-up: Strengthen internal controls and train staff on documentation and cash management to ensure compliance with HUD’s funding policies.

Finding Text

Unsupported MTW Capital Fund Program (CFP) Drawdowns Funds (ALN 14.881) Condition: During testing of the Moving to Work Demonstration Program - Capital Fund Program, we selected a sample of eight eLOCCS drawdown vouchers for review. Of these, the Authority was unable to provide sufficient supporting documentation to substantiate the eligibility, timing, or purpose of the drawdowns for two vouchers. In addition, for one voucher, the Authority did not provide evidence of immediate obligations or expenditures to support the drawdown, indicating a potential violation of the federal “just-in-time” funding requirement. Criteria: Under 2 CFR §200.302(b)(3) and §200.305(b), non-Federal entities must maintain adequate documentation to support all federal fund drawdowns and ensure that funds are drawn only when needed for immediate disbursement. Additionally, under the Moving to Work Demonstration Program (ALN 14.881), participating agencies must adhere to the terms of their HUD-approved MTW Agreement, which incorporates applicable requirements of the Uniform Guidance, including principles of financial management and internal control. MTW agencies must ensure that drawdowns are supported by actual, timely obligations and expenditures, and must maintain records sufficient to permit the tracing of funds to a level that ensures proper use in accordance with MTW statutory purposes and HUD requirements. Cause: The Authority lacked sufficient internal controls to ensure that drawdowns were properly documented at the time of request and reimbursement requests aligned with immediate, allowable expenditures. Effect: The drawdowns associated with the two unsupported vouchers are considered potentially unallowable, and the improperly timed drawdown may be noncompliant with federal cash management standards, increasing the risk of recapture, repayment, or audit findings. Questioned Costs: $1,501,783 Recommendation: The Authority should establish or strengthen internal procedures to ensure all drawdown requests are tied to documented and eligible obligations and align with HUD’s “just-in-time” funding policy. Additionally, the Authority should train staff on federal documentation and cash management requirements under 2 CFR Part 200 and HUD guidance. Reply and Corrective Action Plan: To address documentation gaps and timing issues in MTW Capital Fund drawdowns, the Authority will implement a process requiring that all drawdown requests be accompanied by complete supporting documentation. Each request will be reviewed for eligibility and compliance with “just-in-time” funding requirements prior to approval by the Executive Director.

Corrective Action Plan

Title: Unsupported MTW Capital Fund Program (CFP) Drawdowns Program Name: Moving to Work Demonstration Program - Capital Fund Program ALN: 14.881 Description: During testing of the Moving to Work Demonstration Program - Capital Fund Program, we selected a sample of eight eLOCCS drawdown vouchers for review. Of these, the Authority was unable to provide sufficient supporting documentation to substantiate the eligibility, timing, or purpose of the drawdowns for two vouchers. In addition, for one voucher, the Authority did not provide evidence of immediate obligations or expenditures to support the drawdown, indicating a potential violation of the federal "just-in-time" funding requirement. Planned Corrective Action: Fiscal Year 2024 was a year marked by personnel turnover in key administrative, accounting, and human resources positions. The Authority will work to implement a process to ensure that every drawdown request is accompanied by the required supporting documentation. In addition, the supporting documentation will be reviewed to ensure that it meets eligibility and "just-in-time" requirements prior to the Executive Director signing the request.

Categories

Questioned Costs Cash Management

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 569320 2024-003
    Material Weakness
  • 569321 2024-004
    Material Weakness
  • 569322 2024-005
    Material Weakness
  • 1145761 2024-002
    Material Weakness
  • 1145762 2024-003
    Material Weakness
  • 1145763 2024-004
    Material Weakness
  • 1145764 2024-005
    Material Weakness

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
14.881 Moving to Work Demonstration Program $2.46M
14.872 Public Housing Capital Fund $568,026
14.871 Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers $207,229
14.870 Resident Opportunity and Supportive Services - Service Coordinators $46,815