Finding Text
Description of Condition
The purpose of the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) program is to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic’s negative effects on public health and the economy, provide premium pay to essential workers during the pandemic, provide government services to the extent COVID-19 caused a reduction in revenues collected, and make necessary investments in water, sewer, or broadband infrastructure. In 2022, the County spent $1,481,455 in program funds.
Federal regulations authorize recipients to award SLFRF funds to people or entities who experienced the negative economic or health-related effects of the pandemic. However, these regulations restrict recipients from using program funds to pay principal or interest on outstanding debt because debt service costs do not constitute the provision of services to constituents.
Our audit found the County’s internal controls were adequate for ensuring it materially complied with the program’s allowable activities and allowable costs requirements. However, we found the County awarded program funds to another local government to pay for its debt service costs, which is not an allowable expense.
Cause of Condition
County staff were not aware program funds could not be used for debt service costs.
Effect of Condition and Questioned Costs
The County provided $30,000 in program funds to another local government, which used $25,259 of it to pay debt service costs. This does not constitute an authorized use of program funds, so we are questioning these costs.
Federal regulations require the State Auditor’s Office to report known questioned costs that are greater than $25,000 for each type of compliance requirement. We question costs when we find the County has not complied with grant regulations and/or when it does not have adequate documentation to support expenditures.
Recommendation
We recommend the County only spend program funds on eligible costs.
County’s Response
The County will establish procedures to verify eligibility of program costs by requiring proof of eligibility be attached to grant fund expense vouchers when submitted to the auditor’s office for processing.
Auditor’s Remarks
We appreciate the County's commitment to resolving the issues noted and will follow up during the next audit.
Applicable Laws and Regulations
Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance), section 516, Audit findings, establishes reporting requirements for audit findings.
Title 2 CFR Part 200, Uniform Guidance, section 303, Internal controls, describes the requirements for auditees to maintain internal controls over federal programs and comply with federal program requirements.
The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants defines significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in its Codification of Statements on Auditing Standards, section 935, Compliance Audits, paragraph 11.
Title 31 CFR Part 35, Pandemic Relief Programs, section 35.6, establishes eligible uses.