We recommend that HUD’s Deputy Assistant Secretary for Grant Programs require the State to provide documentation to support the appraised fair market values of the 942 other properties included in our sampling universe to ensure that $361,465,173 in settlement costs was supported. This recommendation includes but is not limited to providing support to show that appraisals contained accurate and verified information for the subject and comparable properties, time adjustments were supported, and other adjustments were supported. If support cannot be provided, the State should reimburse the unsupported costs from non-Federal funds.
2019-NY-1002 | Mayo 29, 2019
The State of New York Did Not Ensure That Appraised Values Used by Its Program Were Supported and Appraisal Costs and Services Complied With Requirements
Community Planning and Development
- Status2019-NY-1002-001-BOpenClosed$361,465,173Questioned Costs
Recommendations with questioned costs identify costs: (A) resulting from an alleged violation of a law, regulation, contract, grant, or other document or agreement governing the use of Federal funds; (B) that are not supported by adequate documentation (also known as an unsupported cost); or (C) that appear unnecessary or unreasonable.
- Status2019-NY-1002-001-COpenClosed
We recommend that HUD’s Deputy Assistant Secretary for Grant Programs require the State to provide documentation to support the appraised fair market values of any other properties purchased under the program since January 2016 that relied upon appraisals conducted by the contractors discussed in this report to ensure that settlement costs for those properties were supported. If support cannot be provided, the State should reimburse the unsupported costs from non-Federal funds.
- Status2019-NY-1002-001-DOpenClosed$93,350,616Funds Put to Better Use
Recommendations that funds be put to better use estimate funds that could be used more efficiently. For example, recommendations that funds be put to better use could result in reductions in spending, deobligation of funds, or avoidance of unnecessary spending.
We recommend that HUD’s Deputy Assistant Secretary for Grant Programs require the State to strengthen controls over the property valuation process for its program to ensure that up to $93,350,616 not yet disbursed is put to better use. This recommendation includes but is not limited to implementing a process to review the appraisal and quality control work to ensure that appraised fair market values are supported and that quality control reviews are performed as required by Federal, State, and industry standards and to take appropriate action for cases in which the work does not comply with requirements.
- Status2019-NY-1002-002-AOpenClosed$3,119,209Questioned Costs
Recommendations with questioned costs identify costs: (A) resulting from an alleged violation of a law, regulation, contract, grant, or other document or agreement governing the use of Federal funds; (B) that are not supported by adequate documentation (also known as an unsupported cost); or (C) that appear unnecessary or unreasonable.
We recommend that HUD’s Deputy Assistant Secretary for Grant Programs require the State to provide documentation to show that $3,119,209 paid for appraisals and poststorm addenda performed by its contractor was reasonable, supported, and for services that were performed in accordance with applicable requirements or reimburse any unsupported costs from non-Federal funds.
- Status2019-NY-1002-002-BOpenClosed$156,940Questioned Costs
Recommendations with questioned costs identify costs: (A) resulting from an alleged violation of a law, regulation, contract, grant, or other document or agreement governing the use of Federal funds; (B) that are not supported by adequate documentation (also known as an unsupported cost); or (C) that appear unnecessary or unreasonable.
We recommend that HUD’s Deputy Assistant Secretary for Grant Programs require the State to provide documentation to show that $156,940 paid for sales brochures, economic land analysis studies, and consultant fees was reasonable, necessary, supported, and for services that were performed in accordance with applicable requirements or reimburse any unsupported costs from non-Federal funds.
- Status2019-NY-1002-002-COpenClosed$75,006Questioned Costs
Recommendations with questioned costs identify costs: (A) resulting from an alleged violation of a law, regulation, contract, grant, or other document or agreement governing the use of Federal funds; (B) that are not supported by adequate documentation (also known as an unsupported cost); or (C) that appear unnecessary or unreasonable.
We recommend that HUD’s Deputy Assistant Secretary for Grant Programs require the State to provide documentation to show that $75,006 used for appraisal quality control reviews was for services that complied with applicable requirements or reimburse any unsupported costs from non-Federal funds.
- Status2019-NY-1002-002-DOpenClosed$118,800Questioned Costs
Recommendations with questioned costs identify costs: (A) resulting from an alleged violation of a law, regulation, contract, grant, or other document or agreement governing the use of Federal funds; (B) that are not supported by adequate documentation (also known as an unsupported cost); or (C) that appear unnecessary or unreasonable.
We recommend that HUD’s Deputy Assistant Secretary for Grant Programs require the State to provide documentation to show that $118,800 paid to the State’s contractor for appraisals performed by its subcontractors was reasonable, supported, and for services that were performed in accordance with applicable requirements or reimburse any unsupported costs from non-Federal funds.
- Status2019-NY-1002-002-EOpenClosed
We recommend that HUD’s Deputy Assistant Secretary for Grant Programs require the State to execute an agreement with the City for the use of appraisal services and obtain documentation to show that services were procured in accordance with applicable requirements and that contracts contained all required provisions. If the State cannot provide the executed agreement and documentation, HUD should use one or more of the remedies for noncompliance in 24 CFR 570.495.
- Status2019-NY-1002-002-FOpenClosed
We recommend that HUD’s Deputy Assistant Secretary for Grant Programs require the State to strengthen controls to ensure that future Disaster Recovery funds used for appraisal services and quality control reviews under the program are for costs that are reasonable, necessary, supported, and for services that comply with applicable requirements.
2019-FW-0001 | Mayo 17, 2019
HUD CPD Did Not Enforce the Disaster Appropriations Act, 2013, 24-Month Grantee Expenditure Requirement
Community Planning and Development
- Status2019-FW-0001-001-AOpenClosedClosed on Marzo 31, 2020$167,254,244Questioned Costs
Recommendations with questioned costs identify costs: (A) resulting from an alleged violation of a law, regulation, contract, grant, or other document or agreement governing the use of Federal funds; (B) that are not supported by adequate documentation (also known as an unsupported cost); or (C) that appear unnecessary or unreasonable.
We recommend that Deputy Assistant Secretary for Grant Programs require two grantees to repay $167,254,244 for grants funds spent in excess of the amount obligated for a round.
- Status2019-FW-0001-001-BOpenClosedClosed on Marzo 31, 2020$24,409,255Questioned Costs
Recommendations with questioned costs identify costs: (A) resulting from an alleged violation of a law, regulation, contract, grant, or other document or agreement governing the use of Federal funds; (B) that are not supported by adequate documentation (also known as an unsupported cost); or (C) that appear unnecessary or unreasonable.
We recommend that Deputy Assistant Secretary for Grant Programs require five grantees to repay $24,409,255 for grant funds spent before the grantee had signed a grant round agreement obligating the funds.
- Status2019-FW-0001-001-COpenClosedClosed on Julio 01, 2020$334,441,871Questioned Costs
Recommendations with questioned costs identify costs: (A) resulting from an alleged violation of a law, regulation, contract, grant, or other document or agreement governing the use of Federal funds; (B) that are not supported by adequate documentation (also known as an unsupported cost); or (C) that appear unnecessary or unreasonable.
We recommend that Deputy Assistant Secretary for Grant Programs require four grantees to repay $334,441,871 for grant funds spent by the grantee after the grant round’s 24-month expenditure deadline had expired.
- Status2019-FW-0001-001-DOpenClosedClosed on Marzo 31, 2020$524,289Questioned Costs
Recommendations with questioned costs identify costs: (A) resulting from an alleged violation of a law, regulation, contract, grant, or other document or agreement governing the use of Federal funds; (B) that are not supported by adequate documentation (also known as an unsupported cost); or (C) that appear unnecessary or unreasonable.
We recommend that Deputy Assistant Secretary for Grant Programs recapture $524,289 in grant funds, which the grantee had not reported spent by the grant round expenditure deadline, and return the funds to the U.S. Treasury as HUD can no longer reobligate the funds.
- Status2019-FW-0001-001-EOpenClosedClosed on Julio 01, 2020$413,530,414Funds Put to Better Use
Recommendations that funds be put to better use estimate funds that could be used more efficiently. For example, recommendations that funds be put to better use could result in reductions in spending, deobligation of funds, or avoidance of unnecessary spending.
We recommend that Deputy Assistant Secretary for Grant Programs adopt and enforce new written policies, procedures, and internal controls for all CDBG Disaster Recovery funds that have a statutory grantee expenditure deadline, which will ensure that $413,530,414 in 2013 Act funds will be put to better use.
- Status2019-FW-0001-001-FOpenClosedClosed on Julio 01, 2020
We recommend that Deputy Assistant Secretary for Grant Programs take action to correct and address the DRGR system material internal control weaknesses identified in this report.
2019-FW-1002 | Mayo 15, 2019
The Weslaco Housing Authority, Weslaco, TX, Did Not Follow Federal, State, and Authority Requirements for Legal Services
Public and Indian Housing
- Status2019-FW-1002-001-AOpenClosedClosed on Enero 23, 2020$97,170Questioned Costs
Recommendations with questioned costs identify costs: (A) resulting from an alleged violation of a law, regulation, contract, grant, or other document or agreement governing the use of Federal funds; (B) that are not supported by adequate documentation (also known as an unsupported cost); or (C) that appear unnecessary or unreasonable.
We recommend that the Director of the San Antonio Office of Public Housing require the Authority to support or repay its HUD program accounts from non-Federal funds $97,170 paid for unsupported legal services, of which $29,111 was paid with Housing Choice Voucher Program funds and $68,059 was paid with operating funds.
- Status2019-FW-1002-001-BOpenClosedClosed on Enero 23, 2020$21,000Questioned Costs
Recommendations with questioned costs identify costs: (A) resulting from an alleged violation of a law, regulation, contract, grant, or other document or agreement governing the use of Federal funds; (B) that are not supported by adequate documentation (also known as an unsupported cost); or (C) that appear unnecessary or unreasonable.
We recommend that the Director of the San Antonio Office of Public Housing require the Authority to support or repay its HUD program accounts from non-Federal funds $21,000 paid for unreasonable and unnecessary retainer fees for those months when the Authority did not hold a regular meeting, of which $7,112 was paid with Housing Choice Voucher Program funds and $13,888 was paid with operating funds.
- Status2019-FW-1002-001-COpenClosedClosed on Octubre 02, 2019
We recommend that the Director of the San Antonio Office of Public Housing require the Authority to revise its procurement policies to include, either in their entirety or by reference, the current Federal cost principles.
- Status2019-FW-1002-001-DOpenClosedClosed on Septiembre 20, 2019
We recommend that the Director of the San Antonio Office of Public Housing require the Authority to provide training to commissioners and employees on Federal procurement and cost principles requirements and have them certify that they understand and will comply with the requirements.
2019-AT-1003 | Mayo 08, 2019
The Talladega Housing Authority, Talladega, AL, Generally Administered Its Rental Assistance Demonstration Conversion in Accordance With HUD Requirements but Did Not Comply With Critical Renovations Regulations
Public and Indian Housing
- Status2019-AT-1003-001-AOpenClosedClosed on Diciembre 13, 2019$65,240Questioned Costs
Recommendations with questioned costs identify costs: (A) resulting from an alleged violation of a law, regulation, contract, grant, or other document or agreement governing the use of Federal funds; (B) that are not supported by adequate documentation (also known as an unsupported cost); or (C) that appear unnecessary or unreasonable.
Repay to the public housing program from non-Federal funds the $32,620 in ineligible housing assistance it received from HUD.