Special to the American
The city’s Community Development Agency hands out millions in federally funded contacts every year. With the contract comes government-mandated accounting guidelines that organizations must follow when reporting how they use the funds.
Three years ago, the internal audit section of the St. Louis Comptroller’s Office started a training program to teach CDA contractors. The training is part of an agreement to help CDA educate its contractors on proper accounting and financial reporting procedures. The goal, said Comptroller Darlene Green, is to help ensure the federal funding is used properly and to reduce future audit findings.
“City government relies heavily on community organizations and outside contractors to provide services to our residents,” said Green.
“There are millions of dollars of federally funded contracts let by CDA, and it’s important to do all we can to help the contractors understand what the accounting rules and regulations are.”
Green’s auditors teach two mandatory contract training classes. One is the large, annual training held each winter with anywhere from 60 to 70 contractors present. The other class is smaller and acts as a stopgap for those first-time contractors not making the annual class.
During a recent stopgap class, auditors focused on teaching contractors what actions or inaction will prompt CDA to impose penalties, terminate a contract or result in future audit findings.
“We want to be proactive and give the contractor the tools they need to meet the contract requirements,” explained Victoria Reed, the Comptroller’s Office auditor who taught the bulk of the class.
“We teach them how to fill out financial reporting forms and the rules and regulations they need to know to be successful.”
Harold Crumpton, a member of the Greater Ville Preservation Committee, is in the midst of administering its first CDA contract. The community-based development organization received $70,000 to help address a variety of community issues in the Ville neighborhood. Crumpton said he thoroughly appreciated the class.
“The training was excellent, and the presenters were professional,” said Crumpton. “I realized how complex the reporting process is, and now have the Comptroller’s Office to call to ask questions and get answers.”
The Herbert Hoover Boys & Girls Club also gets funding from CDA. The club’s first $100,000 contract will pay for a junior-staff career-development program to provide career development to teenagers.
“The training was totally awesome because it tells you what you need to do to be successful,” said Herbert Hoover Vice President of Finance Velda Clay.
“There are step-by-step procedures we can use to run a successful accounting department. This class will help everyone who attends.”
The Comptroller’s Office invites all City contractors to contact them at 314-589-6113 with any questions regarding the accounting and financial aspects of their contact.
