COMPLIANCE SECTION

* Report on Compliance and on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting Based on an Audit of Financial Statements Performed in Accordance With Government Auditing Standards

* Report on Compliance with Requirements Applicable to Each Major Federal Program and Internal Control Over Compliance in Accordance with OMB Circular A-133 and the State Single Audit Implementation Act.

* Report on Compliance with Requirements Applicable to Each Major State Program and Internal control Over Compliance in Accordance with Applicable Sections of OMB Circular A-133 and the State Single Audit Implementation Act.

* Schedule of Findings and Questioned Costs

* Corrective Action Plan

* Summary Schedule of Prior Audit Findings

* Schedule of Expenditures of Federal and State Awards

REPORT ON COMPLIANCE AND ON INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING BASED ON AN AUDIT PERFORMED IN ACCORDANCE WITH

GOVERNMENT AUDITING STANDARDS

Board of County Commissioners

Harnett County, North Carolina

We have audited the general purpose financial statements of Harnett County, North Carolina, as of and for the year ended June 30, 2001, and have issued our report thereon dated October 12, 2001. We conducted our audit in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America and the standards applicable to financial audits contained in Government Auditing Standards, issued by the Comptroller General of the United States.

Compliance

As part of obtaining reasonable assurance about whether Harnett County’s financial statements are free of material misstatement, we performed tests of its compliance with certain provisions of laws, regulations, contracts and grants, noncompliance with which could have a direct and material effect on the determination of financial statement amounts. However, providing an opinion on compliance with those provisions was not an objective of our audit and, accordingly, we do not express such an opinion. The results of our tests disclosed three instances of noncompliance that are required to be reported under Government Auditing Standards, which are described in the accompanying Schedule of Findings and Questioned costs as Items 01-1, 01-2 and 01-3.

Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

In planning and performing our audit, we considered Harnett County’s internal control over financial reporting in order to determine our auditing procedures for the purpose of expressing our opinion on the financial statements and not to provide assurance on the internal control over financial reporting. However, we noted certain matters involving the internal control over financial reporting and its operation that we consider to be reportable conditions. Reportable conditions involve matters coming to our attention relating to significant deficiencies in the design or operation of the internal control over financial reporting that, in our judgment, could adversely affect Harnett County’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data consistent with the assertions of management in the financial statements. Reportable conditions are described in the accompanying Schedule of Findings and Questioned Costs as Item 01-4.

A material weakness is a condition in which the design or operation of one or more of the internal control components does not reduce to a relatively low level the risk that misstatements in amounts that would be material in relation to the financial statements being audited may occur and not be detected within a timely period by employees in the normal course of performing their assigned functions. Our consideration of the internal control over financial reporting would not necessarily disclose all matters in the internal control that might be reportable conditions and accordingly, would not necessarily disclose all reportable conditions that are also considered to be material weaknesses. However, we believe none of the reportable conditions described above is a material weakness. We noted other matters involving the internal control over financial reporting that we have reported to management of Harnett County in a separate letter dated October 12, 2001.

This report is intended for the information and use of the audit committee, management, others within the organization, members of the Board of Commissioners, and federal and State awarding agencies and pass-through entities, and is not intended to be and should not be used by anyone other than these specified parties.

Fayetteville, North Carolina

October 12, 2001

REPORT ON COMPLIANCE WITH REQUIREMENTS APPLICABLE TO EACH MAJOR FEDERAL PROGRAM AND INTERNAL CONTROL OVER COMPLIANCE IN ACCORDANCE WITH OMB CIRCULAR A-133 AND THE STATE SINGLE AUDIT IMPLEMENTATION ACT

Board of County Commissioners

Harnett County, North Carolina

Compliance

We have audited the compliance of Harnett County, North Carolina, with the types of compliance requirements described in the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-133 Compliance Supplement and the Audit Manual for Governmental Auditors in North Carolina, issued by the Local Government Commission, that are applicable to each of its major federal programs for the year ended June 30, 2001. Harnett County’s major federal programs are identified in the summary of auditor’s results section of the accompanying schedule of findings and questioned costs. Compliance with the requirements of laws, regulations, contracts and grants applicable to each of its major federal programs is the responsibility of Harnett County’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on Harnett County’s compliance based on our audit.

We conducted our audit of compliance in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America; the standards applicable to financial audits contained in Government Auditing Standards,1 issued by the Comptroller General of the United States; and OMB Circular A-133, Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations, and the State Single Audit Implementation Act. Those standards, OMB Circular A-133, and the State Single Audit Implementation Act require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether noncompliance with the types of compliance requirements referred to above that could have a direct and material effect on a major federal program occurred. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence about Harnett County’s compliance with those requirements and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion. Our audit does not provide a legal determination on Harnett County’s compliance with those requirements.

In our opinion, Harnett County complied, in all material respects, with the requirements referred to above that are applicable to each of its major federal programs for the year ended June 30, 2001.

Internal Control Over Compliance

The management of Harnett County is responsible for establishing and maintaining effective internal control over compliance with requirements of laws, regulations, contracts and grants applicable to federal programs. In planning and performing our audit, we considered Harnett County’s internal control over compliance with requirements that could have a direct and material effect on a major federal program in order to determine our auditing procedures for the purpose of expressing our opinion on compliance and to test and report on internal control over compliance in accordance with OMB Circular A-133 and the State Single Audit Implementation Act.

Board of County Commissioners

Harnett County, North Carolina

Page 2

Our consideration of the internal control over compliance would not necessarily disclose all matters in the internal control that might be material weaknesses. A material weakness is a condition in which the design or operation of one or more of the internal control components does not reduce to a relatively low level the risk that noncompliance with applicable requirements of laws, regulations, contracts and grants that would be material in relation to a major federal program being audited may occur and not be detected within a timely period by employees in the normal course of performing their assigned functions. We noted no matters involving the internal control over compliance and its operation that we consider to be material weaknesses.

Fayetteville, North Carolina

October 12, 2001

REPORT ON COMPLIANCE WITH REQUIREMENTS APPLICABLE TO EACH MAJOR STATE PROGRAM AND INTERNAL CONTROL OVER COMPLIANCE IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE SECTIONS OF OMB CIRCULAR A-133 AND THE STATE SINGLE AUDIT IMPLEMENTATION ACT

Board of County Commissioners

Harnett County, North Carolina

Compliance

We have audited the compliance of Harnett County, North Carolina, with the types of compliance requirements described in the Audit Manual for Governmental Auditors in North Carolina, issued by the Local Government Commission, that are applicable to each of its major State programs for the year ended June 30, 2001. Harnett County’s major State programs are identified in the summary of auditor’s results section of the accompanying schedule of findings and questioned costs. Compliance with the requirements of laws, regulations, contracts and grants applicable to each of its major State programs is the responsibility of Harnett County’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on Harnett County’s compliance based on our audit.

We conducted our audit of compliance in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America; the standards applicable to financial audits contained in Government Auditing Standards,1 issued by the Comptroller General of the United States; applicable sections of OMB Circular A-133 as described in the Audit Manual for Governmental Auditors in North Carolina, and the State Single Audit Implementation Act. Those standards, applicable sections of OMB Circular A-133, and the State Single Audit Implementation Act require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether noncompliance with the types of compliance requirements referred to above that could have a direct and material effect on a major State program occurred. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence about Harnett County’s compliance with those requirements and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion. Our audit does not provide a legal determination on Harnett County’s compliance with those requirements.

In our opinion, Harnett County complied, in all material respects, with the requirements referred to above that are applicable to each of its major State programs for the year ended June 30, 2001.

Internal Control Over Compliance

The management of Harnett County is responsible for establishing and maintaining effective internal control over compliance with requirements of laws, regulations, contracts and grants applicable to State programs. In planning and performing our audit, we considered Harnett County’s internal control over compliance with requirements that could have a direct and material effect on a major State program in order to determine our auditing procedures for the purpose of expressing our opinion on compliance and to test and report on internal control over compliance in accordance with applicable sections of OMB Circular A-133 and the State Single Audit Implementation Act.

Board of County Commissioners

Harnett County, North Carolina

Page 2

Our consideration of the internal control over compliance would not necessarily disclose all matters in the internal control that might be material weaknesses. A material weakness is a condition in which the design or operation of one or more of the internal control components does not reduce to a relatively low level the risk that noncompliance with applicable requirements of laws, regulations, contracts and grants that would be material in relation to a major State program being audited may occur and not be detected within a timely period by employees in the normal course of performing their assigned functions. We noted no matters involving the internal control over compliance and its operation that we consider to be material weaknesses.

Fayetteville, North Carolina

October 12, 2001

SECTION I. Summary of Auditor’s Results

Financial Statements

Type of auditor’s report issued: Unqualified

Internal control over financial reporting:

- Material weakness(es) identified Yes X No

- Reportable condition(s) identified

that are not considered to be

material weaknesses X Yes None reported

Noncompliance material to financial

statements noted Yes X No

Federal Awards

Internal control over major federal programs:

- Material weakness(es) identified Yes X No

- Reportable condition(s) identified

that are not considered to be

material weaknesses Yes X None reported

Type of auditor’s report issued on compliance for major federal programs: Unqualified

Any audit findings disclosed that are

required to be reported in accordance

with Section 510(a) of Circular A-133 Yes X No

Identification of major federal programs:

CFDA Numbers Names of Federal Program or Cluster

Subsidized Child Care Program Cluster:

93.558 Temporary Assistance for Needy Families

93.575 Child Care Development Fund Discretionary

93.596 Child Care Development Fund, Mandatory/Match

93.667 Social Services Block Grant

N/A TANF Maintenance of Effort

N/A TANF Maintenance of Effort – Smart Start

N/A State Appropriations

N/A Smart Start

93.558 Temporary Assistance for Needy Families

10.551, 10.561 Food Stamp Cluster

93.778 Medical Assistance Program

10.557 Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for

Women, Infants & Children

SECTION I. Summary of Auditor’s Results (continued)

Dollar threshold used to distinguish

between Type A and Type B Programs $ 1,730,257

Auditee qualified as low-risk auditee? X Yes No

State Awards

Internal control over major State programs:

- Material weakness(es) identified Yes X No

- Reportable condition(s) identified

that are not considered to be

material weaknesses Yes X None reported

Type of auditor’s report issued on compliance for major State programs: Unqualified

Any audit findings disclosed that are

required to be reported in accordance

with the State Single Audit

Implementation Act Yes X No

Identification of major State programs:

Program Name

Special Assistance to Adults

Smart Start

Public School Building Bonds

TANF – Maintenance of Effort

II. Financial Statement Findings

*Prior year findings repeated in the current year are indicated by an asterisk (*).

REPORTABLE CONDITIONS

(*) FINDING: 01-1

Non-Compliance with Laws and Regulations

Criteria: North Carolina General Statutes require that fund deficits be “fully appropriated” when adopting the budget ordinance for the subsequent year. For General Statute purposes, “fully appropriated” means a transfer that affects fund balance rather than a loan.

Condition: The fund deficit in the Section 8 Housing Fund (the “Fund”) of approximately $134,731 as of June 30, 2000 was not “appropriated” during fiscal 2001. The fund deficit at June 30, 2001 was $226,482.

Effect: Non-compliance with regulations.

Cause: The Board is aware of the deficit, which occurs due to the timing of payments.

Recommendation: Management needs to, on a periodic basis, evaluate the ability of the Fund to fund the deficit and appropriate the funds if necessary.

II. Financial Statement Findings (continued)

FINDING: 01-2

Non-Compliance with Laws and Regulations

Condition: There is a fund deficit in the Special Districts Fund of approximately $864 as of June 30, 2001, and was not “appropriated” during fiscal 2001.

Effect: Non-compliance with regulations.

Cause: Appropriation did not occur on a timely basis.

Recommendation: Management should appropriate the fund deficit.

FINDING: 01-3

Non-Compliance with Laws and Regulations

Criteria: North Carolina General Statutes require that actual expenditures do not exceed appropriated expenditures at the legal level of budgetary control.

Condition: The budgetary ordinance for the county is prepared at the department level. During the year ended June 30, 2001, expenditures exceeded appropriated amounts at the level of budget ordinance appropriation as follows:

Effect: Non-compliance with regulations.

Recommendation: We recommend that the County implement a process whereby they monitor the budget versus actual financial results monthly in order to identify the need for budgetary amendments prior to the end of the fiscal year.

II. Financial Statement Findings (continued)

(*) FINDING: 01-4

Internal Controls

Criteria: Internal controls are enhanced when the responsibilities for executing a transaction, recording the transaction, and maintaining custody of the assets resulting from the transaction are assigned to different individuals. Appropriate documentation should be used consistently throughout the departments.

Condition: In reviewing cash receipt procedures in offices outside the Finance Department, we noticed a lack of segregation of duties in many of those offices due to the small number of employees. Internal controls are enhanced when the responsibilities for executing a transaction, recording the transaction, and maintaining custody of the assets resulting from the transaction are assigned to different individuals. Also, the transportation department does not use prenumbered receipts when accepting cash.

Effect: While it may be convenient to have one person authorized to receive cash, record the accounts receivable payment, and make the deposit to Finance, such a situation does not provide the ideal internal control structure.

Cause: Many departments have a small number of employees, resulting in difficulty in achieving adequate segregation of duties.

Recommendation: We believe it would be in the County’s best interests to implement a rotation schedule for the review of controls related to cash receipts in each ancillary department to see whether they can be strengthened. The Finance department should work with all departments, especially the transportation department, to develop the appropriate documentation for accepting cash receipts.

III. Federal Award Findings and Questioned Costs

None reported.

IV. State Award Findings and Questioned Costs

None reported.

_________________________

Notes to the preceding schedule

1. Federal programs that did not meet the criteria for a major program using the criteria discussed in OMB Circular No. A-133 Section .520 but were tested as a major program because the State awards met the threshold for a major State program are included in the list of major federal programs.