Finding 957047 (2023-001)

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Requirement
L
Questioned Costs
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Year
2023
Accepted
2024-03-15
Audit: 295369
Organization: Town of Stow (MA)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: Obligations reported were overstated by $965,175 due to misunderstanding of reporting requirements.
  • Impacted Requirements: Four key line items must be accurately reported: current period obligation, cumulative obligation, current period expenditure, and cumulative expenditure.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: The Town should establish clear procedures to ensure only valid obligations are reported in future Project and Expenditure reports.

Finding Text

2023-001 U.S. Department of the Treasury COVID-19 – Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds – ALN 21.027 Criteria: The compliance supplement identifies four Key Line Items required to be reported to the federal awarding agency which include (1) current period obligation, (2) cumulative obligation, (3) current period expenditure and (4) cumulative expenditure. Per 2 CFR 200.1, an obligation is an order placed for property and services, contracts and subawards made, and similar transactions that require payment. Condition: Obligations were overstated by $965,175 on the March 31, 2023 Project and Expenditure report. Cause: The Town did not have a clear understanding of the reporting requirements and included amounts approved but not obligated. Effect: The Town did not properly report amounts obligated in the March 31, 2023 Project and Expenditure report. Questioned Costs: None Repeat Finding from Prior Year: No Recommendation: The Town should implement procedures to only report obligations on the Project and Expenditure reporting for items that meet the federal criteria for reporting as an obligation. Views of Responsible Official: Management agrees with the finding.

Categories

Subrecipient Monitoring Reporting

Other Findings in this Audit

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
21.027 Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds $804,693
97.036 Disaster Grants - Public Assistance (presidentially Declared Disasters) $4,794
20.600 State and Community Highway Safety $2,831
97.042 Emergency Management Performance Grants $1,965