Linn County Road Department, Oregon, Has Sufficient Policies, Procedures, and Business Practices

We conducted this audit early in the Public Assistance process to identify areas where the Department may need additional technical assistance, or monitoring to ensure compliance, before improperly expending any of the Federal grant funds.  We determined if the Department conforms to its policies, procedures, and business practices, FEMA has reasonable assurance, but not absolute, that the Department will properly manage the Public Assistance grant funds it receives. During our audit, we determined the Department did not always use the lowest of FEMA and local rates for equipment costs.  Department officials agreed with this finding and took immediate corrective action by notifying Oregon that they would revise and resubmit payment reimbursement claims with correct equipment rate costs.  The Department has revised its procurement procedures for small contracts to include affirmative steps and assure the use of DBEs when possible, as 2 CFR 200.321 requires.  We are not requiring any further action from FEMA, therefore we consider this audit closed.