internal control of arra funds: a pilot for faster reporting john fisher us department of health...
TRANSCRIPT
Recovery Act
Single Audit Internal Control Pilot Project – ARRA Programs Volunteer collaborative effort. Focus on more timely communication of significant
deficiencies and material weaknesses in internal control over compliance for selected major programs with ARRA expenditures. Reporting required prior to the completion of the Single
Audit and no later than 6 months after the Auditee’s year-end.
Theory was that it would allow Auditees to correct internal control deficiencies related to ARRA funds in a more timely manner to reduce potential future unallowable costs.
Internal Control Pilot Project States1. Alaska2. California3. Colorado4. Florida5. Georgia6. Louisiana7. Maine8. Missouri9. Nevada10. North Carolina11. Ohio12. Oklahoma13. South Dakota14. Tennessee15. Texas16. Virginia
Original Programs DOL 17.255 – Unemployment Insurance DOT 20.205 – Highway Infrastructure Investment Recovery Act DOT Cluster 20.500/20.507 –Federal Transit - Capital Investment
Grants EPA 66.458 – Capitalization Grants for Clean Water State Revolving
Funds EPA 66.468 – Capitalization Grants for Drinking Water State Revolving
Funds DOE 81.042 – Weatherization Assistance for Low Income Persons ED Cluster 84.394/84.397 – State Fiscal Stabilization Fund Ed Cluster 84.010/84.390 – Title I Grants to Local Educational
Agencies HHS 93.713 – Child Care Development Block Grant HHS 93.778 – Medicaid Assistance Program Multiple Agencies – Research and Development Cluster
Results
A total of 56 programs were audited.
In 11 cases the auditors did not report any deficiencies for the audited program.
Five of the 127 reported deficiencies were considered Material Weaknesses.
Summary of ResultsProgram Number
of States Audited
Total Number of Program Findings
DOL 17.255 8 11
DOL WIA Cluster 1 1
DOT 20.205 5 8
DOT Highways Cluster
2 3
EPA 66.458 1 0
EPA 66.468 1 0
DOE 81.042 3 3
DOE 81.041 1 1
ED Title I Grants to Local Education Agencies Cluster
3 4
Summary of Results - Continued
Program Number of States Audited
Total Number of Program Findings
ED Special Education Cluster
1 2
ED Vocational Rehabilitation Cluster
2 7
ED 84.048 1 2
ED 84.357 1 2
ED 81.367 1 2
ED State Fiscal Stabilization Cluster
4 4
USDA SNAP Cluster 2 8
DOJ 16.738 1 2
Summary of Results - Continued
Program Number of States Audited
Total Number of Program Findings
Research and Development Cluster
2 3
HHS 93.713 2 8
HHS 93.778 5 14
HHS TANF Cluster 1 6
HHS 93.563 1 5
HHS CSBG Cluster 1 5
HHS 93.658 2 7
HHS 93.659 2 9
HHS Aging Cluster 2 10
Findings
In two cases the auditors reported the ARRA funds had been awarded to entities whose internal controls were inadequate to ensure Federal funds were used appropriately. State agency had not previously managed Federal
funds and consequently did not have detailed processes or policies for disbursing and managing Federal funds.
State agency began applying for Recovery Act funds in March 2009 but the Commission had not implemented a system of internal controls adequate to ensure that the funds were used appropriately.
Findings - Continued
Internal controls were not adequate to ensure ARRA funds were properly reported.
Internal controls were not adequate to minimize excess unspent balances of ARRA funds at the grantee and subrecipient levels.
Internal controls were not adequate to ensure ARRA expenditures were allowable.
Procurement internal controls were inadequate. Internal controls were not adequate to ensure eligible goods
and services were provided to eligible individuals and entities. Auditee’s were not providing subrecipients with timely
information about Federal award requirements, increasing the risk of noncompliance with grant terms.
Audit Resolution
Data Based on Responses Received From Federal Agencies
Cutoff Date – July 16, 2010
Audit Resolution
Agency # Findings Resolved Unresolved
Labor 12 12 0
DOT 11 4 7
EPA 0 0 0
Energy 4 0 4
Education 23 10 13
USDA 8 0 8
Justice 2 0 2
DHHS 64 55 9
R&D (HHS) 3 3 0
Total 127 84 43
Unresolved Audit Findings
Five Education Findings Were Reported Corrected in State Single Audit
Texas
Pilot Assessment
Sufficient Participation - YES Useful information to auditees and Federal
program management - YES Effective audit resolution by Federal
agencies YES - HHS, Ed, Labor NO - DOT, Energy, USDA
Other Comments - States
Project elevates the importance of SA and program accountability
No substantial changes from current audit processes
Willing to participate in Phase 2 More relief is needed Compliance Supplement is needed earlier
Potential Pilot Phase 2 - Considerations Need immediate start – July 19, 2010 Revise list of programs (consult with RATB,
Agency & GAO inputs) Provide State relief funds Identify agency point of contact for program
requirements and audit resolution for each program
Include universities and non-profits
Concluding Remarks
John Fisher
816-426-3204
US Department of Health & Human Services
Office of Inspector General
Office of Audit Services
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