Millis Housing Authority

This is a Massachusetts State Auditor performance audit of the Millis Housing Authority covering July 1, 2012 through June 30, 2013.

“I am pleased to provide this performance audit of the Millis Housing Authority.”

Auditors checked whether the housing authority was following laws and state housing rules, and whether its management controls were working properly.

“The objectives of our audit were to determine the Authority’s compliance with applicable laws, rules, and regulations and to review and analyze its management controls and practices to determine whether (1) the Authority’s expenditures were allowable, related to its operations, and compliant with the requirements of the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD); (2) the Authority determined tenant eligibility, placement, and monthly rent in accordance with DHCD regulations; (3) the Authority procured goods and services in accordance with Chapter 30B of the General Laws; (4) the Authority performed site inspections of its housing units each year; (5) the Authority performed and scheduled annual inventories of property and equipment; (6) the Authority complied with DHCD’s financial reporting and data collection requirements; (7) modernization money, if any was awarded, was spent in accordance with DHCD regulations; and (8) money received under Chapter 44B of the General Laws (the Community Preservation Act), if any, had been spent according to that law and DHCD guidelines.”

The authority manages public housing, so the audit helps show whether public resources and housing programs were being handled properly.

“The Authority currently manages and oversees 73 units of state housing for elderly tenants, 10 units for low-income families, and 1 unit under the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program, as well as an additional 21 units of federal family housing that are administered by the Dedham Housing Authority.”

If you are a Millis resident, taxpayer, tenant, or applicant, the report says the authority’s tested work was being done according to the rules during this period.

“Based on our audit, for the period July 1, 2012 through June 30, 2013, the Authority’s expenditures were allowable, related to its operations, and compliant with DHCD requirements; its eligibility determinations, rent determinations, and placements complied with DHCD regulations; its procurement of goods and services complied with Chapter 30B of the General Laws; its site inspection procedures, inventory controls, financial reporting, and data collection complied with DHCD requirements; and any expenditure of modernization funds and Community Preservation Act funds complied with DHCD requirements and Chapter 44B of the General Laws.”

Auditors did not report findings requiring correction. For the areas they tested, the authority had adequate controls and complied with applicable requirements.

“Based on our audit, for the period July 1, 2012 through June 30, 2013, the Authority maintained adequate internal controls and management practices and complied with applicable laws, rules, regulations, and contractual terms for the areas tested.”

The report does not list corrective actions or recommendations. It says audit staff discussed the report with the authority’s management.

“My audit staff discussed the contents of this report with management of the Authority.”

This is a clean audit result for the tested areas: spending, tenant decisions, inspections, inventory, reporting, data collection, modernization money, and Community Preservation Act money were found to comply with requirements.

“Based on our audit, for the period July 1, 2012 through June 30, 2013, the Authority’s expenditures were allowable, related to its operations, and compliant with DHCD requirements; its eligibility determinations, rent determinations, and placements complied with DHCD regulations; its procurement of goods and services complied with Chapter 30B of the General Laws; its site inspection procedures, inventory controls, financial reporting, and data collection complied with DHCD requirements; and any expenditure of modernization funds and Community Preservation Act funds complied with DHCD requirements and Chapter 44B of the General Laws.”

DHCD means the state Department of Housing and Community Development, the agency whose housing rules the authority had to follow.

“the Authority’s expenditures were allowable, related to its operations, and compliant with the requirements of the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD);”