Finding 627999 (2022-004)

Significant Deficiency
Requirement
AB
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2022
Accepted
2023-05-30
Audit: 48358
Organization: City of Victorville (CA)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The City is reviewing CDBG grant expenditures after disbursement instead of before, which undermines effective internal controls.
  • Impacted Requirements: This practice violates 2 CFR Part 200, section 200.303, which mandates prior authorization for federal award expenditures.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Implement electronic or manual approval processes for all grant expenditures before disbursement to ensure compliance and proper documentation.

Finding Text

Federal Agency: United States Department of Housing and Urban Development Federal Program Name: CDBG Entitlement Grants Cluster: Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Assistance Listing Number: 14.218 Federal Award Identification Number and Year: B-21-MC-06-0593; B-20-MC-06-0593; B-19-MC-06-0593; B-18-MC-06-0593; B-17-MC-06-0593; B-16-MC-06-0593; Award Years 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, and 2016 Award Period: Fiscal Year 2021-2022 Type of Finding: ? Significant Deficiency in Internal Control over Compliance (Allowable Costs) ? Other Matter (Allowable Costs) Criteria or Specific Requirement: 2 CFR Part 200, section 200.303 of the Uniform states that a 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. Condition: The City has specific CDBG grant personnel that are responsible for reviewing all grant expenditures to ensure they are allowable. However, the designated grant personnel are reviewing the expenditures after the disbursement has been made instead of prior to authorizing the disbursement and charging to the grant. In addition, there is no formal documentation retained to illustrate that all disbursements were reviewed. Internal controls over federal awards should include authorization by appropriate grant personnel prior to such disbursements occurring. Questioned Costs: None noted. Context: All disbursements are reviewed in the same manner. Cause: The City will correct any unallowed expenditures identified by grant personnel by moving such expenditures to an appropriate fund and revenue source. These procedures were deemed by the City to be adequate. Effect: Without formal documentation of the review process, the review might not occur without management's knowledge. In addition, internal controls should have a preventative as well as detective aspect to ensure timely identification of any unallowable costs or activities. Repeat Finding: This is not a repeat finding. Recommendation: We recommend that the City either utilize the electronic authorization capabilities of the accounting system or manually initial or sign invoices to have approvals of all grants expenditures by the designated grant personnel prior to disbursing the funds.

Categories

Allowable Costs / Cost Principles Significant Deficiency Matching / Level of Effort / Earmarking

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 51557 2022-004
    Significant Deficiency
  • 51558 2022-005
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 51559 2022-006
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 51560 2022-007
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 51561 2022-008
    Significant Deficiency
  • 628000 2022-005
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 628001 2022-006
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 628002 2022-007
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 628003 2022-008
    Significant Deficiency

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
20.205 Highway Planning and Construction $15.47M
21.027 Covid-19 Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds $1.80M
14.218 Community Development Block Grants/entitlement Grants $1.67M
20.106 Airport Improvement Program $940,527
14.218 Covid-19 Community Development Block Grants/entitlement Grants $446,317
14.239 Home Investment Partnerships Program $314,361
20.106 Covid-19 Airport Improvement Program $94,327
97.042 Emergency Management Performance Grants $21,449
16.738 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program $8,918
21.019 Covid-19 Coronavirus Relief Fund $2,139