DES MOINES, IOWA (March 1, 2022) — Auditor of State Rob Sand today released a report on a review of the Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Department’s (HSEMD) compliance with requirements established by Chapter 34A of the Code of Iowa. Section 34A 7A(5) of the Code requires each county Joint 911Service Board to submit Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) cost and expense data and an audit of that data. The review included 911 cost and expense data submitted to HSEMD by each county Joint 911 Service Board for the period July 1, 2018 through June 30, 2020.
Sand reported it was not possible to verify the accuracy and completeness of the costs reported in the 113 PSAP Data Collection forms for fiscal years 2019 and 2020 because sufficient supporting documentation was not maintained by certain PSAPs selected for testing. Variances between accounting systems and other accounting records were identified for the 20 PSAP Data Collection forms tested.
Differences identified by Sand for fiscal year 2019 total cost data reported for the 20 PSAPs tested ranged from $45,350 of costs under reported to $362,384 of costs over reported. Differences identified in fiscal year 2020 ranged from $9,731 of costs under reported to $108,267 of costs over reported. Certain PSAP’s showed improvement in cost data reporting from 2019 to 2020. In addition, Sand reported certain PSAP payments tested were not in compliance with restrictions established by section 34A.7(5) of the Code.
The report includes recommendations to improve the instructions provided to the Joint 911Service Boards to prepare the PSAP Data Collection forms. Sand also recommended HSEMD officials provide training to ensure the PSAP Coordinators have the knowledge to accurately complete the PSAP Collection form and maintain supporting documentation as instructed.
A copy of the report is available for review on the Auditor of State’s web site at https://auditor.iowa.gov/reports/audit-reports/.
