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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem #13 - Discussion Itemrol Joseph P. Grassie City 'Manager thoW Howard V. Gary, Ditectot,, Management and tudget Mt, 6t MIAMI. PL6P1bA INfiirR,i)i'i=`iet MEMORANbUM bAtE. Match 22, 1978 suPitcr. Child bay Care Audit ptFtaENcts ENGLOSU$ tt ttL t On February 2, 1978, a memorandum was submitted to Robert Parkins, Director of Citizens Services from Luisa Calderin, Coordinator of Social Services Delivery for the Department of Citizens Services. This memorandum outlined a number of allegations made by various individuals associated with the program. The allegations as stated in the memorandum, are as follows: 1. The Parent -Teacher -Community private account where monies have been utilized to throw a January 10, 1978 party. 2. Mrs. Chandler's practice of charging requisitions as if more children were served than actually did by the U.S.D.A. Food Program 3. Continued pressure placed upon employees, particularly at the.time when they were ready to be audited. There have been cases of actual blackmail, according to Vicky Hamilton. 4. Employees working out of job classification. 5. Improper implementation of the Art Therapy Grant. 6. The terminatinq,of Randi Waldstein and Lourdes Garcia. 7. Falsification of attendance records. 8. Supply and equipment's budget used for unauthorized items. With regard to the first allegation, our audit reveals that each center has a private checking account. These accounts are funded, maintained and controlled by the Day Care parents for any use they deem appropriate. When the auditors requested to review the checking accounts, they were informed that the checking accounts were private and that the City of Miami had no jurisdiction over them. A further check with the Law Department substantiated their claim. t#ence, if the Day Care parents decided to have a patty with theft private, non.City funds, then that would not be imptopet from, the City's point of View: the second allegation that the bay Cate program► was overstating the number of children served heals in its tepotts to the tTnited States bepattment of Agriculture (USA) was verified by our audit to be accurate: The audit reveals that for the period covering October 1916 to December, 107/, the number of meals served Was overstated by 3,235. This resulted in the City of Miami receiving approximately $1,600 score than it should have received in USDA reimbursements. Allegation !1 3 above was made by a Day Cate Supervisor who alleged that she was forced to include falsified food service reimbursement requisitions in her tJ.S.D.A. files. These falsified records requested food service reimbursement from the granter source for more children than were actually served meals. The memorandum also alleges that Day Care emplyees ate "working out of job qualification." This allegation has been referred to the Department of Human Resources to evaluate the qualifications of all Day Care employees to ensure compliance with job specifications. Their findings will be submitted to you in the very near future. Pursuant to allegation #i5, this accusation stems from a Day Care Supervisor's allegation that there is no trained Art Therapist as required by the Art Therapy Grant, to instruct trainees in this program. Instead, classes are being conducted at the Miami Dade downtown campus within an Art Instruction Expression class with no qualified art therapist. This allegation is currently under review by the Internal Audit Division. With respect to the termination of Randi Waldstein, Ms. Waldstein was terminated prior to the transfer of the Day Care Program to the Department of Citizen Services. The reason for termination apparently related to her failure to follow her supervisor's instructions related to the field trip where Ms. Waldstein took her personal car instead of a City -provided bus. According to a statement of the former secretaryu to the Day Care Administrator, back -dated letters and memoranda were applied to her file. As for Lourdes Garcia, she was terminated for several reasons. The reasons stated were: (1) unusual punishment enacted upon the childre; (2) failure to follow proper procedures regarding parent conferences; (3) failure to accept responsibilities to work with staff; and (4) insubordination to her supervisor. Ms. Garcia requested and received a hearing by Affirmative Action and Labor relatins. Her termination was determined to have been with cause and was sustained by both offices. With regard to the falsificaton of attendance records, our audit reveals that in some cases the records revealed that employees were paid for hours they did not work. Furthermore, daily and hourly time attendance reports did not agree with the payroll reports, and some part-time employees were granted paid vacation for which they are not entitled to receive. Allegation #8 was made by a Day Care secretary, who stated that an office refrigerator was purchased for the personal use of a Day Care ADministrator's staff. The secretary further stated, that empoyees were instructed to tell the department Director that the refrigerator was for the use of the Day Centers, should he ask about the usage. Since the refrigerator is being used by the Day CAre Program and it is very difficult to determine whethet all DAy Care personnel can use it, this allegation is somewhat tenuous. aieeph R. Grassie City MAhager city oP MIAf I. PLOAR A INTER. lF ICE MEMBRAMbUM 1 / LOOM: Howard V. Gary, Directorf'® 7 Management and tudget rbitt Match 22, 1978 sUi4JEc7 child Day Care Pr''ogratn Audit REFERENCES. ENCLOSURtS. PILE Pursuant to your request, I am enclosing herewith the audit of the Child Day Care Program for fiscal year 1977 and the period covering October 1, 1977 to December 31, 1977. In summary, the findings of the audit are as follows: 1. Time and attendance reports are not properly maintained. 2. Fees for day care services are not properly charged. 3. Participant files are incomplete and poorly maintained. 4. Financial and budgetary information are poorly maintained and, in some cases, non-existent. 5. Reimbursement reports are erroneously prepared. 6. The Day Care Program was poorly managed and supervised. 7. Top management in the Department of Citizen Services has inadequate knowledge of budgetary, fiscal and other reporting requirements. B. There are no periodic reviews or evaluations of the Day Care Program. 9. Day Care revenues are not properly appropriated and accounted for. 10. Financial and programmatic reports are not completed and sub- mitted to the granter source on a timely basis. 11. Reimbursement for granter sources are not received on a timely basis. Three other issues regarding Day Care are still outstanding. Those issues are the qualifications of Day Care personnel, the use of CETA funds in the Day Care Program, and the audit of the entire Department of Citizen Services. 1 The issue regarding the qualifications of bay Cate personnel has been referred to the bepartient of MUMAh tesoutces for evaluation because this is a separate audit in itself and requires the ekpertise of trained personnel technicians. Onee completed, thin evaluation will determine if - the qualifications of bay Care personnel ate in compliance with related 56b specifics ions. The use of CSTA in the bay Cate program is mainly limited to one program (i.e., the Art Therapy Grant) and etTA positions which augment the staff of the program. A separate audit is required and underway for thin aspect of the bay Care program. Once completed, the findings will be submitted to you. The last issue of auditing the entire Department of Citizen Services requires a policy decision. The accounting firm of peat, Marwick and Mitchell, Inc., was asked if they could audit the Department of Citizen Services. Their response was yes, but they felt that the City's cost would be astronomical. If the City's Division of Internal Audit performed the audit, it would take at least 10 months, depending upon the scope of the audit and the condition of the records. It should be noted, also, that if the Division of Internal Audit performs the audit, other audits that generate revenues to the City would have to be postponed. Finally, some broad issues were raised regarding our budgetary and accounting system. These issues relate specifically to the Day Care Pro- gram and generally, to all federal and state grant-in-aid programs. Firstly, our financial accounting and management system does not provide a mechanism whereby charts of accounts can be maintained for each grant on a fund/grant or program basis. The classification of accounts now in use does not fully comply with governmental accounting, auditing and financial reporting guidelines, nor with the new State of Florida require- ments. The work to remedy this problem has been underway for the last several months and should require about two (2) weeks to complete. It should be understood, however, that the new chart of accounts will not become effective until October 1, 1978. The reason for this date is that cur- rent accounting operations within the City would be put into turmoil if there was not a planned conversion. The logical point occurs at the close of the fiscal year, September 30, 1978. Inherent within this process will be the assurance that the City can meet the need to provide the grant accounting which has been sorely remiss in the past. Secondly, our past system of budgeting did not properly appropriate grant- in-aid funds. As a result, budgets were not properly authorized, com- puterized or monitored, and grant-in-aid staffs were unable to obtain budget status reports necessary to manage their programs. To remedy this problem, the Department of Management and Budget will have to do three things. The first is to legally authorize all grant-in-aid programs by the passage of appropriate legislation. This process was completed October 1977. The next step requires the development of detail line -item budgets for all grant-in-aid programs. This process has been underway since December l9/7. Ohde coMpleted, it will interface with the few dharts bf addoUhts and todil petit qtaht-ih-aid ptoqtams to obtaih budget and fiscal reports Which ate necessary for good Mahagetent and cohtrol, Inherent ih this press Will be the assurance that hew or ekittihg per» sbhhel are added to the bepaktMeht of Management and budget to perform this massive respohtibility, tinder this neW systeM of accouhtihg, the departtentt With grants will receive classification of accounts expressed ih terms of each grahtts reporting and accounting reguireMehtt. It will be the responsibility of each department to code daily transactiong in order to ihput the ihforma= tioh into the system. The monthly trial balances and reports will be produced from that input, As a result, reporting and accounting respon- sibilities will be transferred to the Finance bepartmeht's Grants Section ih the Geheral Accounting bivision. Meanwhile, the Management and Sudget beaprtment will prepare budget ordinances and input this information directly into the computer after obtaining City Manager, City Commission and agency clearances. The time frame for this action is scheduled for operations October 1, 1978. - -1-170,1twamwursrftm ....wgvv4„AorMt.tltPXX7M.CVZMRM::VVXT5nMrAnt.VR,. its eft of MIAMI. PI-oftIl5A INTERhbrNIee MEMORANDUM te: Howard V. Gary, Director Department of Management and Budget 00 MfibM: Sujan C Assit iant Director Department 1/ a "t and Budget for tnternaltAtldit Division SCOPE OF AUDIT bitt March 21, 1978 tiLt: 78 202 5ueutct. Child Day Care Program Audit Period October 1, 1976 through Septeimber 30, 1977 and October 1, 1977 through December 31, 1977 RtFtatMct9 tNCLOSURtt. A. GENERAL INFORMATION 1. At the request of J.R. Grassie, City Manager, we have audited the Child Day Care Program, administered by the City of Miami, for the fiscal year 1976-77 and the period October 1, 1977, to December 31, 1977. 2. All revenues available for use by the Child Day Care Program have been identified. Each revenue source has been reviewed to determine if the appropriate legislation was passed by the City Commission providing for the use of said revenue by the Department responsible for administering the Child Day Care Program. 3. The purpose of this audit was to examine the revenue and the expenditure of funds associated with the Child Day Care Program. Our review of anticipated revenue and expenditure covers the fiscal years 1976-77 and 1977-78. Examination of the revenue and the actual expenditures is limited to the fiscal year 1976-77 and the period October 1, 1977, through December 31, 1977. 4. The funds for the Child Day Care Program are provided by the Federal Revenue Sharing Fund, Florida State Community Affairs, United States Department of Agriculture Food Reimbursement (U.S.D.A.) and Day Care fees. However, only the following funds were appropriated by the City Commission: Source of Funds Ordinance or Fiscal Year Fiscal Year Period 10-1-77 Resolution No. 1976-77 Federal Revenue Res. 76-945 $300,000.00 Sharing Fund ft e1 ft Ord. 8713 Ord. 8722 Res. 77-971 Res. 78-36 F1. State Comm. Affairs Grant Res. 76-1138 $ 45,000.00 345,000.00 1977-78 to 12-31-77 $ 17,750.00 17,750.00 17,750.00 159,750.00 $17,750.00 17,750.00 17,750.00 213,000.00 53,250.00 City of Miami Department Of Management and Budget Division of ltiteraal Audit toward V. Cary W _P. A IT (Cb_tid). 5. the 197647 Adopted Budget and the 1977=78 Budget Estimate ithply that the revenues mentioned in item # 4 above were to be used for the Operation of the Child Day Cate program. t)ndet this program, day care is provided between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 pan. for preschool age children Of working parents residing within the City of Miami. Day Care services are provided at the following facilities: March 201 1978 Eaton Park Moore Park Shenandoah Park B. PAYROLL. 1. Day Care centers maintain employee attendance sheets and send carbon copies to the Day Care Administrator. Based on these records and its own records the Administrator's Office prepares a consolidated tithe sheet and forwards it to Joe Owsiak, Assistant Director, of the Citizen Services Department for inclusion in the payroll of the whole Department. C. DAY CARE FEES 1. The City Code Section 39-16.1 provides for fees based on yearly gross family income, to be charged for the use of Child Day Care facilities. The current fee schedule was authorized by Ordinance No. 8682 which was passed on July 28, 1977, and became effective from August 1, 1977. The fees charged upto July 31, 1977, ranged from a minimum of $2.00 to a maximum of $35.00 per child per week. From August 1, 1977, the scale of fees was revised to a minimum of $7.50 and a maximum of $35.00 per child per week. The fee for the second child shall be half the fee for the first child. For the third child and all additional children, the fees shall be half the fee for the second child. The old and the revised scales of day care fees are shown on the attached exhibit A. 2. The fees are collected weekly on the first working day of the week. If fees remain unpaid for two weeks, a written reminder requesting prompt payment is sent to the parents of the child concerned. A final reminder is sent after the fourth week if payment is still delinquent. A copy of this final reminder is sent to the Accounts Receivable Division of the Finance Department. Thereafter, the child is not permitted to return to the center until all outstanding fees are paid. D. U.S.D.A. FOOD REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM 1. The cost of food consumed by the children at the Child Day Care Centers is partially reimbursed by the Florida Department of Education under its Food and Nutrition Management Program. The reimbursement rates per meal applicable to the period under review are as follows: Oct. 1976 Dec. 1976 Breakfast $ .2877 Lunch .6843 P.M. Supplement .1611 Total $ 1.1331 Jan. to June 1977 $ .2952 .6990 .1667 $ 1.1609 July to Sept. 1977 $ .3092 .7311 .1743 $ 1.2146 Oct. to Dec. 1977 $ .3370 .7882 .1923 $ 1.3175 'pt bpAUbit (Obit ' d b. .8.ti:At'OOD REIMBIASBMENT PROGRAM CONV 2. The contracts for the supply of Meals to the three Centers for the periods dune 1, 1976 to May 31, 1977, and dune 1, 1977 to May 30, 1978, were awarded to the Marriott Corporation and Dietcraft tte. ih accordance with Resolutions 176..582 and 77..449 adopted on dune 9, 1976 and May 19, 1977 respectively, as follows! Marriott Corp. Jytie 1, -1976 ' ._May ,_3.1,µ1977 Breakfast $ .33 Lunch .60 B.M. Supplement 619.._ Total $1.12 Dietcraft Inc. $ .25 .75 .19 $1.19 3. To claim reimbursement for disbursed food, the City is required to maintain, in addition to other records, the following records: a. An attendance record of children enrolled daily. b. The number of meals actually served to children by type of meal. c. The daily number of meals served to adults by type of meal. 4. Each month Child Day Care Centers are required to request reimbursement for meals served to children. This is accomplished by completing form ESE 185 which includes the number of meals served and the cost of these meals. These forms are submitted to the Day Care Administrator who in turn prepares a consolidated claim on the monthly reimbursement voucher (form ESE 367). These forms must be received by the funding source no later than the tenth of each month. The maximum number of meals approved for reimbursement at the three centers is as follows: Breakfast Lunch P.M. Supplement 135 135 ft All three centers FY 76-77 135 ft FY 77-78 80 135 135 E. FLORIDA STATE COMMUNITY AFFAIRS GRANT 1. For FY's 77 and 78 the City was awarded Florida State Community Affairs Grant of $45,000 in each year to operate the Child Day Care Program. The amounts of $45,000 to be received in each fiscal year were scheduled to be received in twelve (12) equal installments. 2. Clause No. 6 of the Grant Agreement requires the submission of the following reports to the Florida State Community Affairs. a. A monthly financial statement within ten days of the end of the month. b. A quarterly program status report within fifteen days of the end of the quarter. c. An annual audit report covering contract funds, program compliance and administrative capability within 120 days of termination of the agreement. 3. The City is required to match this program with funds from its annual Federal Revenue Sharing allocation. F. FEDERAL REVENUE SHARING FUND 1. A major portion of the funds needed to operate the Day Care Program are appropriated from Federal Revenue Sharing Fund. .. 003Wevxmdn,,w,w. kosK to 1.av: :k . s "a"4F> Altv. : `?dt' " City of i iatii W bepattmettt of Management and $udget bivisiati of internal Audit toward V. Gary tI:MIT PROC bUBES March 20 i 1918 Ai ptisttMt 1. Pertinent records of the following Impartments have been ocamined. a. Citizen Services (formerly Office of Comunity Affairs) b. Finance c. Management and Budget 2. The following personnel were contacted for information: Name Department R. W. Parkins Citizen Services J. Owsiak Citizen Services W. Black Citizen Services R. Chandler Citizen Services J. A. Ellis Citizen Services V. Hamilton Citizen Services D. Johnson Citizen Services C. Garcia Finance M. Merritt Finance J. Baldwin Management and Budget 3. A test for compliance was administered relative to the usage of the annual $45,000 State of Florida Community Affairs Grant Award and the U.S.D.A. Food Reimbursement of $32,864.81 and the budgeted $27,000 for fiscal years 1976-77 and 1977-78 respectively. 4. A comparison was made between: a. Budgeted appropriations and expenditures for fiscal year 1976-77. b. Budgeted appropriation and expenditures covering the period of October 1 through December 31, 1977. 5. The Budget was evaluated in terms of the cost per child. B. PAYROLL 1. Attendance records of the Child Day Care Centers were examined. 2. Time worked, by the various employees was traced to the Payroll Register and Detailed Earnings Reports of the Finance Department. 3. Detailed Earnings Reports were verified to the computer expenditure reports. 4. We verified whether part-time employees enjoyed benefits such as paid vacations. .dity a Miami b artmettt of Managetent and Budget Di `jaititt of ihtetnal Audit Mswatd fir cam,5� AUDIT PROCEDURES ,CONT!D C. DAY CARE FEES 1. The auditors verified whether: Match 20, 1918 Fees charged were correct based on the gross family incomes as provided in the City Code Section 39-16.1. Revised fees were charged from August 1, 1977, to the present. b. Procedures for the recovery of past due fees were fully and properly implemented. Total amount of fees collected for the period October 1, 1976, through December 31, 1977, was deposited in the City Treasury. 2. Fees collected were reconciled with the records of the Finance Department. D. U.S.D.A. FOOD REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM 1. Monthly reimbursement requisitions were examined to determine whether the completed requisitions prepared by each center agreed with the number of meals actually served to the children. 2. The records of the Child Day Care Centers were examined to determine the following: a. The number and names of children enrolled. b. The daily number of meals actually served to children by type of meal. c. The daily number of meals served to adults by type of meal. 3. The auditors verified the extent to which: a. The Day Care Administrator's Consolidated Report (Form ESE 367) agreed with the reports (Form ESE 185) received from the Centers. b. The number of meals claimed was correct and within the approved limits. c. The reports were filed on time. E. FLORIDA STATE COMMUNITY AFFAIRS GRANT 1. The auditors verified whether: a. Monthly Financial Statements, quarterly Program Status Reports and annual Audit Reports were filed on a timely basis. b. The City matched this grant with an equal amount from Federal Revenue Sharing Fund. Howard V. Gary -6- March 20# 1918 fir AUAIt,_PROCEfURES CONT'D P. 1'EfERAL_REVENUF SHARING FUND 1. Resolution number 76'.945 for fiscal year 197641 and Otdinance nutbets 8713, 8722 and Resolutions Nos. 77=971 and 78-36 for fiscal year 1977=78 were examined to verify the appropriation of federal Revenue Sharing Funds to the Child Day Care Program* I...__,.AUDIT. FINDINGS A. PAYROLL 1. The employee attendance sheets were not always properly and fully completed and the following discrepancies were discoveredt a. The times "in" and "out" for some employees were not entered on the sheets. The employees were, however, paid for normal attendance. This obviously defeats the purpose of maintaining the time sheets. (See Recommendation # A 1) b. In some cases the records revealed that employees were paid for more hours than they actually worked. (See Recommendation # A 1) c. The part-time employees are not entitled to paid benefits such as vacations; however, records showed that part-time employees at Shenandoah Day Care Center were paid for vacations. (See Recommendation # A 2) B. DAY CARE FEES 1. The revised fees for Day Care became effective August 1, 1977. For those children enrolled on or after August 1, 1977, the revised fees were applied. In the cases of those enrolled prior to August 1, 1977, fees were not always adjusted to reflect the new rates. (See Recommendation 11 B I) 2. The fees charged for Day Care service are based on gross family income. However, in a significant number of cases, fees charged were lower than the fees which were correctly due. It is possible that the fees in these cases were assessed when the gross family incomes were low on account of illness or lay-offs. Whenever errors were found, the higher, correct fees were charged from a current date without retroactive adjustments. (See Recommendation B 2) 3. The Auditors found several cases in which fees charged were based on the amounts of gross family incomes supplied by the parents without corroborative verification. (See Recommendation B 4) 4. When verifying fee collections against Revenue Report No. 8 (Code 017434) the auditors found some cases where the refunds were shown more than once on the report. This resulted in erroneous totals, although refunds were made correctly. The correct fee collections for the fiscal year 1976-77 and the quarter ended December 31, 1977, should be $52,607.66 and $14,842.86 instead of the Report number 8 totals of $52,640.00 and $9,241.00 respectively. This results in over -statement of Day Care Fees by $ 32.34 for Fiscal Year 1976-77. The Day Care fee difference of $5,601.86 received in December 1977 appears on Reprot # 8 for the month of January 78. (See Recommendation# E 6 and Exhibits E and F). City 6f MIAMI Mepartthent of Maiiagefetit and Budget DiViaioh of itttethal Audit Howard V. Oary ill. AUt 1t VINDtNGS CONtD $. 1bAY CARE, PEEB_CON'i!D Match 20, 1978 5. According to the Adopted Budget for FY i976=77, the bay Cate Fee mount of $15,000 was appropriated as revenue available to the General Fund. However, Day Care Fee collections for FY 76-77 amounted to $52,607.66. The difference of $17,607.66 between this amount and the original appropriation was not properly appropriated for Day Care or any other purpose (See Recommendation 11 E 21 E 7) 6. Carlos Garcia, Assistant Director of Finance, informed the auditors that the total amount of Day Care Fees received for the FY 197677 was reclassified and made available to the Child Day Care Program, via the Federal Revenue Sharing Fund. While this reclassification did serve the purpose for which the fee amount should have been made available, it contradicted the Budget Document and the City Charter which states that all funds must be appropriated by Ordinance (Section 34). (See Recommendation /t E 7 A) 7. The auditors found that the patents of some Day Care participants live outside of the City limits (See Recommendations 4E B 6). C. U.S.D.A. FOOD REIMBURSEMENT GRANT 1. For the month of August 1977, the Food Reimbursement voucher was prepared only for meals provided at the Eaton Child Day Care Center instead of all three centers. This resulted in an under -reimbursement in the amount of $1,910.81 as follows: Meals Breakfast Lunches No. of meals Provided at all Rate Three Centers 1,380 $ .3092 2,581 .7311 P.M. Supplement 2,485 .1743 Total Reimbursement Due Less reimbursement received based on meals provided at Eaton only Amount of Reimbursement not received (See Recommend tion 41 C 1) Amount $ 426.70 1,886.97 433.14 $2,746.81 836.00 $1,910.81 2. For the months of August and September 1977 the City was entitled to $5,713.81. However, only $3,803 was actually claimed and received as of December 22, 1977. Furthermore, the $3,803 was miscoded to the wrong account which could not be verified. The amount of $3,803 was received late by the Finance Department and was not accrued on a timely basis. As a result, the assets and revenues were understated (See Recommendation 11 E 5). (See Exhibit F for $5,713.81) �idw4YR�:sx'mkt_+vs� K a4:.»:wry+ o-nr��>.z'S�t�If±:SKa'tfi August, 1977 September, 1977 Correct Amount Amount Received Difference Due $ 2,746.81 2,967.00 Total $ 5,713.81 $ 836.00 $ 1,910.81 2,967.00 -0- $ 3,803.00 $1,910.81 Itowatd V. Gaty March 20, 1978 111. AUDIT_kINDINGs (COMTD) C. U,S.b.A., Y60D_,WMPORSEMENT Gg2AN (Cbt TD) J. An amount of $9,205.03 representing food PeiMburseinent claims for the of October, tbvelnber and December, 1971 had not been received as of March 7, 1978. (See Recommendation #E-1) (See Exhibit X). 4. The anticipated food reirnburseMent amounts of $27,307 and $27,000 for FY 1976=77 and FY 1977-78 have been treated as revenue available to the General Fund as per udget bocUMents (See Recommendation #E2). 5. Carlos Garcia, Assistant Director of the Finance Department, informed us that the U.S.b.A. Reimbursement Graht of $27;307 (shown as Miscellaneous Revenue Matching Grant Fund, for the FY 1976-77) was reclassified and made available to the Child Day Cate Program via the Federal Revenue Sharing Fund. Although this reclassification did serve the purpose for which this amount was inten- ded, it contradicted the Budget Document. (See Recommendation #E7A). 6. There were discrepancies between the number of children actually present and served with meals as reported by the Centers to the Child Day Care Adminis- trator's office and the numbers for which the Administrator's office claimed reimbursement. (See Recommendation #C2). (See Exhibits-N, 0, and P). 7. In most cases the reimbursement claims were based on higher numbers of children than were actually present and served with meals as shown by the enclosed Exhibits N, 0 and P. (See Recommendation #C2). 8. The cost of food served at the Day Care Centers was $38,954.77 and $10,247.55 for FY 1976-77 and the period October 1, 1977, through December 31, 1977 respectively as shown on exhibits L-1 and L-2. 9. The cost of lunches eaten by Day Care employees is borne by the City. Exhibit M shows the number of lunches served to Day Care employees which totals 10,204. The Auditors were unable to determine whether Day Care employees are entitled to free lunches. If one assumes that an average lunch cost 68 then the cost to the City for these lunches equals $6,800.00. D. FLORIDA STATE COMMUNITY AFFAIRS GRANT 1. The Annual Audit Report for the year ending September 30, 1976, was filed in May, 1977 and the Annual Audit Report for the year ending September 30, 1977, had not been filed as of March 9, 1978. (See Recommendation #D1). 2. On March 9, 1978, Mr. Earl Billings, an employee of the State of Florida, stated that he had not received the following reports: (a) The monthly financial reports after the month of June, 1977. (b) The quarterly program status report for the quarter ended September 1977. (c) The Annual Audit Report for fiscal year 1976-77. (See Recommendation #D1) . City of Miati bepartfnent of Management and Budget biVision of internal Audit Howard V. Gary -9- March 20, 1978 Ili. AUDIT FINbtt4GS (CONTD) b. FLORIDA .,St -ATE ...COMMUNITY AFFAIRS. _GRANT (contd) 3. According to Mr. Billings, failure to file these reports has placed this grant award in jeopardy of being terminated. The grant award amount of $18,750.00 covering the months of October 1976 to February 1977, was received on February 14, 1977, and was wrongly coded to the State of Florida handicapped Program. (See RecoM endations # Di, D2, E3, Exhibit F). 4. The grant amount of $11,250.00 covering the period October 1, 1977, to December 31, 1977, had not been received as of March 9, 1978. (See Recommendation D1). 5. Cases were found in which one check for the payment of two or more monthly installments was received instead of a separate check for each month as stipulated in the grant agreement. There seems to be no follow- up action to insure prompt receipt of grant installments (See Recommen- dation #E3). 6. The Florida State Community Affairs grant of $45,000 for FY 76-77 was used for the Child Day Care Program, but was not properly appropriated. E. FEDERAL REVENUE SHARING 1. For FY 76-77, $300,000 of Federal Revenue Sharing Funds were allocated to Day Care; however, no detail line item budget by object of expen- ditures was prepared. The amount allocated to the Child Day Care Pro- gram for the FY 1976-77 was transferred to the Program from the Federal Revenue Sharing Fund at the end of the fiscal year instead of at the beginning of the year. F. GENERAL FINDINGS 1. Generally, the Department of Citizen Services was not able to provide financial information in auditable form and the information required by the Division of Internal Audit was not readily available. Financial reports were mixed with program details of non -financial nature. Financial records were in such poor condition that they had to be con- structed before the audit could begin. The Department of Citizen Services employees were not even aware of the existence of documents like budgetary details of the various programs. The condition of the records was so poor that the management could not use them for the purpose that they were intended i.e., decision making and control. City of Miami bepartment of Mahage!eht and Budget Divisioh of Internal Audit Howard V. Gary Rio= F. Gt%5 ,_FINDINGS (COMM 2. Schedules have been prepared to show the excess tares and the average cost pet child associated for the period October 1, 1976 through becetnber (a) Excess of Revenue over Expenditure (b) Average Daily Cost per Child (c) Average Annual Cost Per Child (See Exhibit I and J) March 20, 1978 of revenues Over ekpendi with the Day Care Prograh 31, 1977, as follows: FY 77 $62,728.47 Exhibit I 12.47 3,067.62 10-1 77-12'31,77 $745.49 11.87 3. A general reconciliation of budgeted revenues for the period October 1, 1976, through December 31, 1977, is shown on exhibits C and D. IV. RECOMMENDATIONS A. B. 1. PAYROLL 1. The employees' time records should be properly completed. Upon receipt of the time records in the Administrator's office, they should be carefully examined for accuracy. (See Audit Findings #A1(a) & (b)). 2. Part-time employees should not be granted paid vacations for which they are not entitled. (See Audit Finding Al (c)). DAY CARE FEES The Citizen Services Department should ensure that the revised Day Care fees, as approved by the City Commission, are charged to all children. (See Audit Finding #B1). 2. The Citizen Services Department should seek advice from Law Department regarding legal propriety of collecting, with retroactive effect, the difference between the revised fees that should have been charged and the fees actually charged. (See Audit Finding Bl). 3. In view of the large number of discrepancies found in the amounts of fees due and those actually charged, the fee recommended by the Social Service should be carefully examined in the Day Care Administrator's office. (See Finding #B2). correctly Worker Audit 4. The children's files should provide a complete record of enrollment, gross family income, rates of fees, payment of fees, past due payment and absences from the Center. 1 dr- City of Miami bppertmettt of Mahagemetit acid Budget biVittiOn of internal Audit Howard V. Gary RECOMMENDATIONS CONY b B. DAY CARE FEES CONT' b r im- March 20, 1078 5. Before a child is accepted at a center, the parents should be required to produce corroborative evidence of their gross family income, such as an employer's certificate or an ineome tax return. (See Audit Finding fit 3). 6. Parents should be required to file a report of the gross family income and corroborative evidence on or before October 1, of each year. The fees should then be reviewed by the Day Care Administrator for verification of gross family income (See Audit Finding tt B 3.) 7. The Day Care facilities provided by the City are primarily for the use of residents of the City of Miami. The records of all children using the City of Miami facilities at present should be examined and the parents of non -City children should be advised to make alternative arrangements for their children. The vacancies resulting from this action should be alloted to City of Miami children on the waiting lists. (See Audit Finding # B 7). 8. It is recommemnded that the day care fees for fiscal year 1977-78 should be removed from the General Fund revenue and placed in a Trust and Agency Fund for Day Care. C. U.S.D.A FOOD REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM 1. An amended Food Reimbursement voucher in the amount of $ 1,910.81 should be submitted for the month of August 1977. (See Audit Finding It C 1) 2. Claims for food reimbursements should be based strictly on the actual number of children served meals at the centers. (see Audit Finding C6, C7 ) D. FLORIDA STATE COMMUNITY AFFAIRS GRANT 1. The Director of Citizen Services should ensure that all monthly, quarterly, semi-annual or annual reports required by the Federal, and State agencies, are filed on a timely basis in accordance with the terms of the related agreements. (See Audit Findings it D1, D2, D3, D4) 2. The Finance Department should reclassify the amount of $18,750. to the Child Day Care Program. (Finding 4t D 3) E. GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS 1. If payment is not received within a reasonable period of time after submission of the appropriate documents, the Directors of Citizen Services and Finance should follow-up to ensure prompt payment.(See Audit Finding # C3). 2. The following revenues, which should have been appropriated to the Child Day Care Program were actually appropriated in the General Fund for General Fund purposes: 1 City of tiai bepatt ►efit of MatSagehent and Budget biviaion of interttai Audit t#otaatd V. l aty E 4ERAtJ 1COmmENbAflOt4S._ CoNt b (a) 'oe..PYL1076 71 12� Match 20, 10ia (i) bay Care Fees $ 15,000.00 (ii) U.S.D.A. Reimbursement Grant Total _$_,. 42., 307._00 (b) Pot FY. 1.9.77 (i) Day Care Fees $ 86,250.00 (ii) U.S.D.A. Reimbursement Grant ,27,000.00 Total $111.,250.00 However, equal amounts have been made available to the Child Day Care Program from Federal Revenue Sharing Funds. To completely satisfy the purpose and intent of the Day Care Fees, U.S.D.A., reimbursements and Florida State Community Affairs Grant, these revenues should be appropriated and expended for the Child Day Care Program. The City should change its practice of utilizing dedicated funds for specific purposes as revenue available to the General Fund. Dedicated funds should only be used for the purpose which they are intended. (See Audit Finding # B 5, C 4, E 1) 3. The Finance Department should give serious consideration to the establishment of accounts on a fund/grant or program basis. These steps will help accurate and efficient management of the grants/programs and timely completion of all allied reports, which will help improve the City's cash flow. (See Audit Finding D3, D5) 4. The Finance Department should revise their method of recording revenue receipts and refunds on the computer reports to avoid duplications and coding errors. 5. The Finance Department should accrue as of September 30, 1977, a reimbursement due the City from U.S.D.A. in the amount of $ 5,713.81. (See Audit Finding 'l C 2) 6. The Finance Department should make the appropriate adjustment for the $ 32.34 over statement of Day Care revenues. (See Audit Finding 4l B4) 7. If and when actual revenue receipts exceed the anticipated revenues, the department head (s) concerned should notify the Department of Management and Budget so that the appropriate actions can be taken. (See Audit Finding 41B 5) 7—A Any corrections necessary to the budget document should be done by Ordinance. (See Finding B 6, C 5) 1 City of Miami Or" Department of Mariegemeft and Budget bivibioh of internal Audit IoWArd V Gary -IS- Match 20, 1078 tV4 It oM1010AfiIONS ON P E. GE14EI4 BECOOtENbATIoNs CONT'b 8. It is recommended that the Department of Human Resources evaluate the qualifications of all bay Care employees to insure compliance with job specification. 9. A Grant Management Unit in the Department of Management and Budget should be established for the following purposes: a) To insure that funds are expended in accordance with grant regulations. b) To insure that grants are expended in accordance with City policies and procedures. c) To insure that funds are properly appropriated. d) To insure that periodic reviews are made to minimize the misusage of grant funds and to insure that programs achieve their goals. e) To insure the centralization of budget management responsibilities. 10. A grant accounting section should be established in the Finance Department. All grant accounting should be performed in this unit in accordance with federal and generally accepted accounting procedures. All accounting, regardless of funding source, should be performed by the Finance Department and not by grant programs. The responsibility for requesting, receiving and disbursing grant funds shoud be handled by this new grant accounting section of the Finance Department. 11. To staff the Grant Accounting and Grant Management Units in the Department of Finance and Management and Budget, it is recomended that existing grant resources in all Departments dedicated to budget and finance functions should be transferred to the Department of Management and Budget and Finance. Furthermore, it is recommended that provisions be made in all grant applications and budgets for periodic audits as deemed necessary by the Internal Auditor of the City of Miami. These resources will either be used to augment the staff of the Internal Auditor or to obtain outside audit expertise. cc: J.R. Grassie R.W. Parkins G. Knox J.E. Gunderson Audit File Reader File kibit A City of Miami Internal Audit Departheflt of Mahagernent and budget s Schedule of Fees for Use of Child Day Cafe Facilities Pees Applicable thru 4141Y 31, 1977 Yearly Gross Family Income $ 0-4,200 4,201-4,999 5,000-7,499 7,500-8,999 9,000-12,499 12,500-14,499 14,500-15,999 16,000-16,999 17,000-17,999 18,000-18,999 19,000-19,999 20,000-24,999 25,000-29,999pg 35,00u-an�9above One Child Weekly $ 2.00 3.00 5.00 7.50 10.00 13.00 15.00 17.00 19.00 22.00 24.00 26.00 23.00 37).00 3E.00 revised Fees Ff fectiye August _1,. 1977 Yearly Gross One Child Family_„ _Income Weekly, $ 0- 4,999 5,000- 7,999 7,500- 8,999 9,000-12,499 12,500-14,499 14,500-15,999 16,000-16,999 17,000-17,999 18,000-18,999 19,000-19,999 20,000-24,999 25, 000-29 , 000 30,000-34,999 35,000- and above $ 7.50 8.50 9.50 11.00 13.00 15.00 17.00 19.00 22.00 24.00 26.00 28.00 30.00 35.00 1 City of Mia►i tnterna Audit (bepartti►ent of Manager eht and Budget) Child bay Cate Program 10=01476 thru 9.-3047 Reconciliation of Budgeted_ReVenues Federal ReVenue Sharing Resolution #76-945 Florida State Community Affairs Gtant Resolution #76-1138 Day Care Fees U.S.D.A. Food Reimbursement Agreement No. 576 Budgeted Adjustments Revised $300,000.00 $ - $300,000.00 45,000.00 45,000.00 Total Revenues $345,000.00 52,607.66 52,607,66 32,864.81 32,864,81 $85,472.47 $430,472.47 EkNiStti-b City of Miami internal Audit (DepartMent et ManageMent and budget) Child by CAM Program 10.-0107 thru 12=31.47 1eeonc.ili4ion_Pf_tUdgeted ReVerlues Federal Revenue Sharing Ord. #8713, 8722 and Res. #77=971 Florida State Community Affairs Grant Res.#77-797 Day Care Fees U.S.D.A. Food Reimbursement Agreement No, 576 Budgeted $53,250.00 Total Revenues $53,250..00 Adjustments Revised $51,250.00 11i250,00 11,250.00 14,842.86 14,842.86 9,205.63 9,205.83 $35,298.49 $88,548.69 tgittRIT-t city of Miami Internal Audit (DepartMent of ManageMent and budget) child Day Care PrograM 1O-01.47 thru 12-3147 Reconciliation of Actual_ReVenUes Federal Revenue Sharing Florida State Community Affairs Grant Day Care Pees U.S.D.A. Food Reimbursement Total Received $53,250.00 9,241.00 $ 62049140 Adjustments 11,250.00 5,601.86 9,2°5.63 Adjusted $ 53,250.00 11,250.00 14,842.86 9,205.63 $ 26,057.49 $ 88,548.49 tkRititAt internal Audit (bepartMent of Mahatlemeut And Budget) CITY OF MIAMI CH= t tAkt PRO-0AM thru RECONCrttATION OP ACTUAL REVENUES Federal Revenue Sharing Florida State Community Affairs Grant Day Care Fees U.S,D.A. Food Reimbursement Total Revenues gECEZVED ADJUSTMENTS ADJUSTDD $300,000.00 $300,000.00 26,250.00 18,750.00 45,000.00 52,640,00 ( 32.34 ) 52,607,66 27,151.00 5.713.81 32.884.81 $408,041.00 $24,431.47 $430,472.47 • +I 1 1 3 [1ti1T,,d lntetial Audit (DepartTeht of Managetheht and Budget) City of Miami Child bay Cate rot tXpenda ttires 10-01 16 thru 9‘.30=77 Personal Services: Salaries (1) 273,496 Serverance - 69 273,565 Contractual: Postage 247 Telephone 1,100 Light & power 4,689 Motor Pool 2,109 Print Shop 1,460 Repairs - Equipment & Supplies 746 Special Services - Miscellaneous 29 Travel 1,583 . Rentals 6,093 Miscellaneous 497 18,553 Commodities: Book Publications 1,154 Cleaning Supplies 1,594 Clothing 215 Construction Materials - Building 191 Special Supplies (Food) 37,154 Medical Supplies 76 Office Supplies 2,305 Special Supplies 2,459 Miscellaneous 2,641 Fixed & Sundry Charges: Social Security Group Insurance Retirement System Unclassified Equipment Total Expenditures 47,789 15,761 3,051 6,895 15 25,722 2,115 2,115 Note (1): Amount shown for salaries does not include salaries and wages of CETA employees. 367,744 tkiliSiTAM City of Miaciii 1ntetnal Audit (bepartitent of Managefheht and Budget) Child bay Care Ptogratti Skpend iture s 10-0177 thru 12-31-77 Personal SetVicest Salaries (1) Personal Services - Miscellaneous Contractual: $65,815 85,0 $66,665 Postage $ 15 Telephone 208 Motor Pool 102 Print Shop 437 Repairs - Equipment & Supplies 373 Rentals 1,740 Miscellaneous 599 $ 3,474 Commodities: Publications & Memberships $ 26 Cleaning Supplies 594 Construction Materials - Building 275 Food 10,413 Medical Supplies 165 Office Supplies 265 Special supplies 399 Miscellaneous 720 $12,857 Fixed & Sundry Charges: Social Security Group Insurance Retirement System Unclassified Total Expenditures $ 3,322 473 1,003 9 $ 4,807 $87,803 Note (1): Amount shown for salaries does not include salaries and wages of CETA employees. 1 Average Daily Attandance (29,486 - 738) tAlltataf Internal Audit (bepartt ent _ot Management and Budget) City of Miami Child bay Care Program kevenue txpenciiturea And Statistical bata 10=01-76 thru 9=30-77 tXcess _bf ge.Venue Over,txpehd.itures Revenue (EXHIBIT-P) Expenditures (EXHIBIT-G) Excess Statistical Data Number of Day Care Centers Number of Operating Days (each center) 246 Total Operating Days (3 x 246) 738 $ 430,472.47 i67,.244.00 $ 62,728.47 3. Total Children Served (all centers/all operating days) 29,486 40 Average Daily Cost per child Expenditures - Total Children Served $12.47 ($367,740 29,486) Average Annual Cost Per Child (246 x $12.47) $3,067.62 (1) Partial reimbursement of food costs from the state of Florida in the amount of $32,864.81, is included in Revenue. 4V t"O *t t6r by q` ° n i r_p:`° V, , �i ;:.. tMlitEiffitt City of Miami thtettal Audit (bepattmeht of Management and budget) Child bay CAte Program Revenue txpenditutesioand Statiatidal beta 1°4)1-77 thru 12-1-77 tkoess of Revenue Over_150hditutes (1) Revenue (EXHIAIT-t) Expenditures (ExEntT-14) Excess Revenue Statistical Data $88,548.49 • 87,80340 $ 745.49 Number of Day Care Centers 3 Number of Operating Days (each center) 60 Total Operating Days (3 x 60) Total Children Served (all centers/all operating days) Average Daily Attendance (•7,396'..- 180) 180 41 1.verage Daily Cost per child Expenditures s. Total Children Served ($87,803 * 7,396) $11.87 (1) Partial Reimbursement of Food Costs from The State of Florida in the amount of $9205.63, is included in Revenue. 1•41. 61. 1 City Of Miati internal Audit (bepartment of Managetneht and tudget) Child bay Care program Food Reimbursements 10=01=-77 thru 12=31-77 Name _Of_ Rate of 'Total Month Menu Quantity_ Reimbursement Amount Amount October 77 Breakfast' 1520 x.3370 $ 512.24 Lunch 2565 x.7882 2,021.73 i P.M. Supp. 2451 x.1923 471.33 $ 3,005.30 November 77 Breakfast 1600 x.3370 $ 539.20 Lunch 2631 x.7882 2,073.75 P,M. Supp. 2511 x.1923 482.87 3,095.82 December 77 Breakfast 1555 x.3370 $ 524.04 Lunch 2641 x:7882 2,081.64 P.M. Supp. 2594 x.1923 498.83 3,104.51 Total Reimbursement due. $ 9,205.63 . i. CITY OF MIAMI INTERNAL AUDIT DEPARTMENT oF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET CHILD DAY CARE PROGRAM FOOD RECEIVED PERIOD 10-1-76 TO 9-30-77 MARRIOTT CORP. 6/77-9/77 10/76-5/77 E {NAME OF CENTER EATON 165 1,995. $.25 $ 498.75 $ 2,128.95 Lunchfast 4,940. $.330 $ 1,630.208918.55 9,368. .60 5,620.0 4,397. .75 3,297.75 8, PMh3,287. .19 624.53 1,962.12' P.M. Supplement 7,041. .19 1,337.79 4,421.03. 13,009.82 SUB TOTAL 0,588.79 81 MOORE 165 5,020. $.33 $ 1,656.60 2,835. $.25 $ 708.75 S 2,365.35 4,453. .75 3,339.75 8,895.15 9,259. .60 5,555.40 7,380. .19 1,402.20 3,770. .19 716.30 2,118.50 SUB TOTAL 8,614.20 4,764.80, 13,379.00 EXRIB.IT-L-1 DIETCRAFT, INC. 10/1/76 - 9/30/77 Breakfast Lunch P.M. Supplement NO. OF SCHOOL NO. OF SCHOOL TOTAL AMOUNT 81 DAYS QUANTITY RATE AMOUNT DAYS QUANTITY RATE AMOUNT SHENANDOAH 165 4,140. $.33 $ 1,366.20 1,215. $.25 $ 303.75 $ 1,.669.95 Breakfast Lunch 9,412. .60 5,647.20 4,289. .75 3,216.75 8,863.95 P.M. Supplement 7,360. .19 1,393.40 3,335. .19 633.65 2,032.05, 4,154.15 12,565.95 SUB TOTAL 8,41.1.E10 $13,3339.98 $ 38.954.77 TOTAL $25,614.79 81 tkitititAL4 City of Fiial i internal Audit (bepatt tent of Ma tagetnent and budget) Child bay Care Pfoe at Food tzeceiVed (Bietetaft_Inc.) io= 01a77 thru 12-31-77 Matte bf Center No. of School_.,bays Quantity state Amouht Nation 60 1475 $ .25 $ 368.75 3185 .75 2,388.75 2320 .19 440.80 Sub Total 3,198.30 Moore 60 . 2300 .25 575.00 3515 .75 2,636.2S 2925 .19 555.75 Sub Total 3,767.00 Shenandoah 60 900 .25 225.00 Sub Total 3405 .75 2,553.75 2650 .19 503.50 3,282.25 Total $10,247.55 XiBit=M. internal Audit (bepatt►ent of Management and Budget) City of Miami Child bay Cate Program 10.0146 thru 12-31=77 Number of lunches served to bay Care employees Month Quantity December 1977 600 November 1977 635 October - 1977 .539 1774 Total September - 1977 641 August - 1977 560 July - 1977 646 June - 1977 602 May - 1977 766 April - 1977 622 March - 1977 803 February - 1977 665 January - 1977 711 December - 1976 727 Ncvember - 1976 846 October - 1976 841 Total 8.L_•i30 Totals 10,204 et to • • • $ Month tXHItiTAN CITY OP MIAMI INTEANAL =IT b8PARTMENT OP MANACEM8NT ANO 8UbdET CH= bAY dAftt PAOORAM ANALYSIS OP FOOO RtIMtURStMtNTS tREADIVAST Authorized for Reimbursement Applied fot Attendance to5 ReiMbursement the # of meals No of (claim) served school YIL. December-77 1,680 1,555 1,555 21 November-77 1,600 1,600 1,600 .20 October-77 1,520 1,520 1,520 19 Total 4,800 4,675 4,675 60 September-77 2,835 1,640 1,550 21 August-77 3,105. 1,380 1,280 23 7u1y-77 2,565 1,615 1,615 19 7une-77 2,430 1,495 1,500 • ,18 May-77 2,835 1,745 1,725 21 April-77 2,835 1,575 1,575 21 March-77 3,105 1,935 1,905. 23. February-77 2,565 1,710 1,710 19 January-77 2,835 1,887 1,890 21 December-76 2,835 1,765 1,755 21 Novenber-76 2,700 1,800 1,800 20 October-76 2,565 1,687 1,710 19 Total 33,210 20,234 20,015 246 Totals 38,010 24,909 24,690 306 Month SXHiBifio.O a CITY OF MIAMI tNTSANAL AUbiT DSPAHTMENT OF MANAGSMENT AND $UbGET CHILD PAY CASE FttO' ttAM ANALYSts OF FOOD httMBURSEMSNTS Y LUNCH Authorited for Applied for Attendance to No of Reimbursement burse rent keitbursement the # of meals School days December-77 2,835 2,641 2,371 ,21 November-77 2,700 2,631 2,603 20 October-77 2,565 2,565 2,422 19 Total 8,100 7,837 7,396 60 September-77 2,835 2,741 2,598 21 August-77 3,105 2,531 2,508 23 July-77 2,565 2,431 1,941 19 June-77 2,430 2,360 2,259 18 May-77 2,835 2,845 2,843 21 April-77 2,835 2,740 2,619 21 March-77 3,105 3,107 3,083 23 February-77 2,555 2,406 2,396 19 January-77 2,635 2,506 2,456 21 December-76 2,835 2,400 2,235 21 November-76 2,700 2,462 2,385 20 October-76 2,565 2,261 2,163 19 Total 33,210 30,790 29,486 246 Totals 41,310 38,627 36,882 306 C2Ty OF MXAMt INTERNAL AUDIT DEPARTMENT OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET CHILD DAY CARE PROGRAM ANALYSIS OF FOOD REIMBURSEMENTS P. M. SUPPLEMENTS Authorized for Applied for Attendance to Rio. of Month Reimbursements Reimbursements * of meals served School Days December-77 2,835 2,594 2,371 November-77 2,700 2,511 2,603 October-77 2,565 2,451 2,422 Total 8,100 7,556 7,396 21 29 19 60 September-77 2,835 2,619 2,598 21 August-77 3,105 2,485 2,508 23 July-77 2,565 2,431 1,941 19 June-77 2,430 2,360 2,259 18 May-77 2,835 2,845 2,843 21 April-77 2,835 2,739 2,619 21 March-77 3,105 3,069 3,083 23 February-77 2,565 2,406 2,396 19 January-77 2,835 2,506 2,456 21 December-76 2,835 2,414 2,235 21 November-76 2,700 2,462 2,385 20 October-76 2,565 2,261 2,163 19 Total 33,210 30,597 29,486 246 Totals 41,310 38,153 36,882 306 dire nt MIAMI, FLOtilbA INTEf2•OPP1Ct MtMc RANbUM te: J seph R. Grassi e City Manager. tft0 W. Parkins, Director 'Citizen Services Department March 9, 1978 StIOJEC`.. PILE: fEF Rl4CE3:Letter of Concern as to quality and progress of Child bay Cate ENCL0 U FS:Centers The letter, above referenced, was presented to the City of Miami Commission on February 23, 1978, and included fourteen (14) questions and three (3) procedures for implementation. The letter was provided to my administrative staff and the bay Care Adminis- trator for response on February 27, 1978. Listed below are the responses from my administrative staff; no response has, as of this date, been pro- vided by the Day Care Administrator. Question ill Answer: {Vhq do teachers work 40 hours and receive pay for only 30 hours? Teachers receive full pay for the forty (40) hours worked. Teacher Assistants, Instructors and Aides have always been part-time employees entitled to work 30 hours per week, and paid for those 30 hours. 0n those occasions where the Day Care Administrator has decided that the part-time employees are needed in excess of the 30 hours, those employees are provided with compensatory time for the hours worked in excess of the 30 hours. This procedure, to my knowl edge, i s identical to the practices employed when the Day Care Program was contained within Parks and Recreation. The Day Care Administrator and I did request - and have recently received a Human Resources Department audit that would provide for some increase in the number of full-time personnel. These new full-time positions, however, cannot be filled until funds have been identified. And, this process requires the kind of in-depth operating budget detail and review that we have been trying to accomplish for some time. Basically, then, Teachers do not work 40 hours and receive pay for only 30 hours. Page 1 of 6 Joseph lip Grassie City Manager Question N2 Answer: Question ll3 Answer: March 90 1 g,8 Ref: Letter of Concern as to quality and progress of Child Day Cate Centers Why aren't supplies timely received when needed instead of waiting sometimes 4 or 5 months for simple, basic supplies? to our knowledge, supply requests have been processed promptly. Equipment purchases had been delayed or modified, if considered appro- priate, while my administrative staff was at- tempting to develop a form of inventory control, This inventory control was considered essential in order that we might ensure that our costs to equip each Center were responsible and appro- priate; so that we might determine what savings could be identified in order to ascertain when the new full-time positions discussed in question N1 might be funded; and, to ensure that we re- duced the tendency to order goods and equipment without regard to that which is on -hand. Why has the quality of care, guidance, teaching, moulding (sic) and development of young, inquisitive minds steadily diminished? Changes in "quality" of service would be generallu under the control of the individuals directly responsible for the daily operations of the pro- gram. We have requested a review of this issue by persons believed to be knowledgeable with Day Care Programs, and we are in the process of conducting a "survey" of perception as part of this review. The results of these efforts should assist us in providing an objective answer to this question. Question ll4 Why don't the Centers have enough teachers? Answer: Paperwork required to fill any vacant positions must originate with the Day Care Administration. And, the paperwork Filling these vacant teacher positions was first processed through the Department's administrative offices on February 15, 1978. None of the three Centers have vacant Teacher positions presently. Teacher/Client ratios are recommended and maintained in accord with state requirements. Day Care administration is responsible for ensuring that these requirements are met, and the Department's administration has had no prior notification that we were ex - Page 2 of 6 Joseph Rh Ctassie City Manager Question 1/5 Answer: March 9, 1978 Ref: Lettet of Concet as to quality and progress of Child Day Care Centers petiencinq any problem, in this regard. Certain agreed vacancies may have been maintained during a period when salary savings were being accumulated, but this process was the responsibility of the Day Care Administration. One group of fifteen (15) Employee Requisitions, originally sub= mi tted on May 31, 1977, was delayed due to.. "some ambiguity as to which were active and which were not, " according to the Management and Budget Department. Ultimately it was determined that only two of the fifteen (15) requisitions were valid, and these two were approved on February 23, 1978, by Management and Budget. lVhy do supervisors and teachers have such long extended probationary periods thus lowering morale, incentive and discouraging the employees? To the knowledge of the Department Administration, all employees have the same probationary period of six (6) months. If there has been any extension of this period, it has occurred without the knowledge or approval of the Department. Question 116 li'hy was the control and direction of the Centers transferred to the Community Affairs Division (sic)? Answer: Question N7 Answer: The transfer of the program occurred at the request of the Day Care Administrator, firs. Robbie Chandler, and the Director of the Department of Parks and Recreation, Mr. Al Howard. Why were the fees increased when most of the parents have not had a salary increase in their jobs in two or three years? The Day Care Administration and the Administration of the Department recommended the fee increase after a comparison of fees paid at comparable pro- grams. This "adjustment" was approved by the City of Miami Commission and was the first change in fees since 1974. Page 3 of 6 Joseph R. Crassie City Manager Question f18 Answer: March 9, 1978 Ref: Letter of Concern as to quality and progress of Child Day Cate Centers Why don't the Centers have transporation available for field trips, as in the past in a bus, when all the children went together, and were exposed to a wide variety of learning experiences? The Day Care Program was transferred from Parks and Recreation with the same fifteen (15) passenger van that the program had prior to the transfer. Since the program has been within this Department, an additional fifteen (15) passenger van has been provided: Consequently, there should be adequate transportation available. further, when arranged by the Day Care Administration, busses can con- tinue to be scheduled through the Parks and Recreation Department as was done prior to the program's transfer. Prior to now, we have no knowledge that this was a problem. Question N9 A. Why the Gestapo like tactics in the recent audit of the Day Care Centers? Answer: 9A The procedures followed were standard audit practices. In addition, whenever there exists a possibility of "records modi fications, " as part of the audit concern, it would be in appro- priate not to conduct the audit as implemented. Question 1198 8. Children's medical records were removed thus unnecessarily creating a potentially hazardous and dangerous setting for children where special instructions must be adhered to? An:swer: 98 The Internal Auditors advise that some medical records were unintentionally removed. however, returned the same day. Question 119C What were the results of the audit? Answer: 9C They were, Estimates are that the audit will be concluded on, or about March 14, 1978, consequently this question cannot be answered at this date. Page 4 of 6 1 ibseph R: Grassie City Manager Question 1/10 Answer: 10 Question 1111 Answer: 11 March 9t 1971? Ref: Letter of Concern as to duality and progress of Child Day Care Centers Where have the fees paid by parents since 1974 been appropriated? The fees were originally earmarked for maintenance and supplies in the Day Care Centers. We have no knowledge of where "fees" might have ended up prior to the transfer of the program to our Department. Since the transfer, we have ensured that the fees paid to the program are used by the program by budgeting the fees for program expenses. f•faintenance and supplies are also budgeted items, so - while not specifically earmarked as indicated the program, and only the program, receives the benefit of the fees. Money has already been appropriated for the ex- pansion of the Centers, and yet the Administration has cut back on supervisors, teachers, instructions and aids, with the intent of expanding centers. This item appears to be more a statement of opinion rather than a question. Never -the -less, the Department administration has has no involve- ment related to cut backs of "supervisors, teachers, instructions (sic) and aids." The departmental administration has assisted the Day Care Adminis- tration in establishing the means to expand the existing centers, but again - the daily operational responsibility for the Day Care program belongs to the Day Care Administration. Question 1112 When will the Community Affairs Division be audited? Answer: 12 External Auditors have been in contact with the Department administration, as a preliminary step to the audit, and are currently - as we understand it - preparing cost estimates. Since the actual implementation of an audit is generally unannounced, the date of audit would not be normally known to us. Page 5 of 6 Joseph R. Ctassi e City /lanaget Question #13 /larch 9, 1978 Ref: Letter of Concern as tD quality and progress Of Child Day Cate Centers Why has this program, as it seems with practically everything, become a political situation, ovet- shawdowing the main concern, our children? Answer #13 This question embodies an opinion that may or may not be accurate. It most assuredly was not the Department's desire that the situation raised in the question occur. Question /114 Where would the children go if the Centers close? They would stay at home and the parents seeks assistance in the form of welfare in order to stay home and properly take care of and supervise the children. Answer: 14 To our knowledge, no one has suggested that the Centers close. The three procedures recommended for implementation are requests for information that the Day Care Administration should be able to provide, The Departmental Administration has, however, also experienced difficulty in securing - from the Day Care Administration - some of the same kind of information that the Parent Teachers Community Association is requesting Consequently - following the conclusion of the current audit - we will be better able to determine how the information requested could best be provi ded. RII'P: edj cc: Parent Teachers Community Association Page 6 of 6 1 s TOt Miami City (lommittion �.,� _ FROMI Parents of C;hil df en enrolled in City of Miami Lay Care CCnte' SV43J%Cft Letter of Concern as to tuality and Prose s of Child Day' Cate Centcrs . The parents and guardians of children in Day Care Centers operated by the City of Miami are vitally concerned with the qur.lity of care and treatment of our children enrolled in the present program. Observers have.. noted over the last two years that the impetus in the program of child development has slowed down and even regressed. Supervisors and teachers are also concerned and have written letters to their supervisors, of which we have copies, indicating that they have fallen into the category of "baby sitters." The regressipn and ddwnward trend in the centers seems tz' have startrrd when the program was removed from the control and direction of the City 'Parks and Recreat!:an Division and placed under the Community Affai.s • Division. The follawino is a list of statements.and •qu.stions for which the concerned parents would like lucid answers and replies. 1. Why do teachers work 40 hours and receive pay for only 30 hours? 2. Why aren't supplies timely received when needed instead of waiting sometimes 4 or'5 months for simple, basic supplies? 3. Why has the quality of care, guidance, teaching, moulding and development of young, inquisitive minds steadily diminished? -1- • 41244 4. Why don't the Centers have enough teachers? 56 Why do supervisors and teacher have such long extended probationary periods thus lowering, morale; ihcentiVc and discouraging the employees? '6. Why was the control rind direction of the C'•?nters transferred to the Community Affairs Division's /. Why were the fees increased when mort of the parents have not had a salary increase in their jobs in two or three gears? O. Why don't the Centers have transportation available for field trips, as in the past in a bus;, when all the children went together, and were exposed to a wide variety of learning experiences? . 9. Why the Gestapo like tactics in the recent audit of the Day Care Centers? F(Children's medical records were, removed thus unnecessarily creating a potentially hazardous and dangerous setting for children where . • special instructions must be adhered to). pat were the results of the audit? 10. Where have the fees paid by parents since 1974 been appr.oria ted? These fees.were originally earmarked for maintenance and. supplies in the Day Care Centers. 11. Money has already been appropriated for the expansion of the Centers, and yet the Adminitration has cut.back on supervisors, teachers, instructions and aids, with the intent of expanding centers. 12. When will the Community Affairs Division be audited? 13. •Why has this program, as it seems with practically everything, become a political situation, overshadowing the main concern, our children? • 3a 1A. where wculd thn childrnn go if the CWntPrs close?' They would stay at hoille and thn patent) r.ek assistance ih thn f`'rm r)f wnlfa..c in order to stay home and properly take dire of and 5UpetVirin thn childrnh. The fore.on i.r)n qU"S tions and stit! m n is 1 ri.resent serlaus pr'ob1Qrns of which sinr or'? parents ai•e d'. irp. The parents Ciro:caniz ation recmrn.,hdt that tt.e, Day C. Centers br. rnt+Irned ,to the cntro1 :,rd direction of the Parks and Recreation Division. The Day Care plan was much more effoctivr' and beneficial to the childzen and parents under the original plan, offering a wide variety of fun,'games, learning experiences, end sincere con,., ,.r in nurturitrg, challenning and developing young, inquisitive, and impressionable minds of our future citizens. In c n,'ulion, we connrnnd parents would=appreciate the following • lateral communication procedures beimg implemented: 1. Have a routine report. of expenditures for Day Care Centers available to parents and interested parties. 2. Make kr:own the amount of funds available from the. Federal Government to the City for support of the.Day Care enters. 3.. t:ake available the amount of funds budgeted for Day Care Centers, and rake known the dispor semen is of the weekly fees paid by —the parents. Respectfully submitted, Parent Teachers Community Association