Finding 620325 (2022-001)

Significant Deficiency
Requirement
N
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2022
Accepted
2023-04-24

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The residual receipts account exceeded the allowable balance by $20,847, violating HUD regulations.
  • Impacted Requirements: Monthly offsets to HAP payments were not submitted, breaching compliance with Notice H-2012-14.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Establish robust procedures to maintain compliance monitoring, even during employee turnover.

Finding Text

Finding 2022-001: Significant Deficiency in Internal Controls over Compliance - Residual Receipts Federal Program: Mortgage Insurance for the Purchase or Refinance of Existing Multifamily Housing Projects (Section 223(f)/207) Assistance Listing Number: 14.155 Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Pass-through Agency: N/A Compliance Requirement: Special Tests and Provisions, Residual Receipts Account Questioned Costs: N/A Criteria: Management has reviewed the Company?s active Section 8 Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) Contract (the Contract) and has determined that it is considered a new regulation contract subject to the requires in Notice H-2012-14 (the Notice), issued by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development on August 3, 2012. In summary, the Notice states that residual receipts account balances in-excess-of $250 per unit must be applied monthly to offset HAP up to the full amount of the monthly subsidy request and that monthly offset must continue until the residual receipts account reaches the retained balance of $250 per unit. At the end of the project?s fiscal year, all surplus cash remaining after payment of any permissible distributions must be deposited into the project?s residual receipt account. Condition/Context: In April of 2022, the balance of the residual receipts account balance exceeded $27,500 allowable based upon the Notice ($250 x 110 Units = $27,500) by $20,847. As a result of the calculated excess, the Company was required to submit a form HUD-9250 to the contract administrator requesting a $20,847 distribution from the residual receipts account to offset May 2022?s housing assistance payment. The request for the required offset was never submitted by the company, as a result, the balance of the residual receipts account was in-excess of the allowable amount for the year ended December 31, 2022. Effect: The balance of the residual receipt account exceeded the maximum allowable balance of $27,500 by $20,847 from May 1, 2022 through December 31, 2022. As a result, the HAP payments for May 2022 were never offset by the amount of the calculated excess as is required by the Notice. Cause: The internal controls established by the Company to monitor compliance with HUD compliance requirements failed to detect non-compliance with requirement of the Notice. In part, the internal control failure was caused by turnover of key employees during the year ended December 31, 2022. Recommendation: We recommend that management implement procedures to ensure that even when the Company experiences turnover, monitoring of compliance with HUD requirements continues. View of Responsible Officials: Management of the Company agrees with this finding.

Categories

HUD Housing Programs Special Tests & Provisions Procurement, Suspension & Debarment Subrecipient Monitoring Significant Deficiency Internal Control / Segregation of Duties

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 43883 2022-001
    Significant Deficiency

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
14.155 Mortgage Insurance for the Purchase Or Refinancing of Existing Multifamily Housing Projects $3.15M
14.195 Section 8 Housing Assistance Payments Program $574,514