Finding Text
Significant Deficiency 2022-004 Condition and criteria: The District should have control processes in place to ensure that monitoring procedures are in place for large contracts. The District contracted work for the engineering and design of HVAC improvements. For 2 of 3 invoices, payments were made from summary invoices rather than from application and certification of payment. We also did not locate a specific contract for the project, just a proposal. When the application and certification of payments were received, there were errors and changes requiring final reconciliation and accruals. Cause: There were changes in personnel at the District during the year and the ESSER grant is fairly new to the District. In addition, the invoices from the contractor did not initially contain all of the required information. Context and effect: We reviewed 100% of the invoices for the project and $38,324 was accrued as a year end liability and additional expense when the final contractor billing was received. This affected both grant revenue and expenses and led to adjustments on the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA). Auditor?s recommendation: We recommend enhanced monitoring procedures for large contracts and that application and certification for payment be reviewed and approved by an official with knowledge of the project and status before payment is issued. We also recommend contracts containing language applicable to Federal programs be prepared for all large projects. Management response: To ensure enhanced monitoring of large projects the District has assigned the Business Manager to approve payment on large projects. The Business Manager regularly meets with the maintenance coordinator and the Superintendent to discuss the progress and payment of large contracts. The District will also require signed contracts for projects being funded by Federal programs.