Audit 10286

FY End
2022-08-31
Total Expended
$47.30M
Findings
20
Programs
24
Year: 2022 Accepted: 2024-01-08

Organization Exclusion Status:

Checking exclusion status...

Findings

ID Ref Severity Repeat Requirement
7887 2022-001 Material Weakness - N
7888 2022-001 Material Weakness - N
7889 2022-001 Material Weakness - N
7890 2022-001 Material Weakness - N
7891 2022-001 Material Weakness - N
7892 2022-001 Material Weakness - N
7893 2022-001 Material Weakness - N
7894 2022-001 Material Weakness - N
7895 2022-001 Material Weakness - N
7896 2022-001 Material Weakness - N
584329 2022-001 Material Weakness - N
584330 2022-001 Material Weakness - N
584331 2022-001 Material Weakness - N
584332 2022-001 Material Weakness - N
584333 2022-001 Material Weakness - N
584334 2022-001 Material Weakness - N
584335 2022-001 Material Weakness - N
584336 2022-001 Material Weakness - N
584337 2022-001 Material Weakness - N
584338 2022-001 Material Weakness - N

Programs

ALN Program Spent Major Findings
84.010 Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies $9.14M Yes 0
84.027 Special Education_grants to States $3.99M Yes 0
10.553 School Breakfast Program $1.44M - 0
84.027 Covid 19 - Special Education_grants to States $801,441 Yes 0
84.367 Supporting Effective Instruction State Grants $701,352 - 0
84.365 English Language Acquisition State Grants $664,798 - 0
84.424 Student Support and Academic Enrichment Program $580,081 - 0
93.778 Medical Assistance Program $168,335 - 0
93.566 Refugee and Entrant Assistance_state Administered Programs $112,500 - 0
84.173 Special Education_preschool Grants $88,256 Yes 0
84.048 Career and Technical Education -- Basic Grants to States $83,468 - 0
84.173 Covid 19 - Special Education_preschool Grants $79,755 Yes 0
10.559 Summer Food Service Program for Children $65,551 - 0
10.582 Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program $65,290 - 0
84.196 Education for Homeless Children and Youth $51,260 - 0
84.334 Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs $30,104 - 0
84.425 Covid 19 - Education Stabilization Fund $24,017 Yes 1
10.555 National School Lunch Program $16,947 - 0
84.060 Indian Education_grants to Local Educational Agencies $13,821 - 0
10.558 Child and Adult Care Food Program $9,655 - 0
21.027 Covid 19 - Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds $6,660 - 0
10.665 Schools and Roads - Grants to States $5,833 - 0
10.649 Covid 19 - Pandemic Ebt Administrative Costs $5,814 - 0
10.574 Team Nutrition Grants $2,352 - 0

Contacts

Name Title Type
PCH7LERXMX58 Jackie Bryan Auditee
2066313007 Ngan Kim-Hoang Nguyen Auditor
No contacts on file

Notes to SEFA

Title: NOTE 1-BASIS OF ACCOUNTING Accounting Policies: The Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards is prepared on the same basis of accounting as the Highline Public School's financial statements. The Highline Public School uses the Modified Accrual basis of accounting. De Minimis Rate Used: N Rate Explanation: The Highline Public Schools used the federal restricted rate of 4.11%, on most programs, when allowed, except for GEAR UP which allows an indirect rate of 8% and the indirect rate of 12.42% on Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund, American Rescue Plan (ARP) – Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Funds, and Beginning Educator Support Team ESA Grant. The Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards is prepared on the same basis of accounting as the Highline Public School's financial statements. The Highline Public School uses the Modified Accrual basis of accounting. Expenditures represent only the federally funded portions of the program. District records should be consulted to determine amounts expended or matched from non-federal sources.
Title: NOTE 2 - FEDERAL INDIRECT RATE Accounting Policies: The Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards is prepared on the same basis of accounting as the Highline Public School's financial statements. The Highline Public School uses the Modified Accrual basis of accounting. De Minimis Rate Used: N Rate Explanation: The Highline Public Schools used the federal restricted rate of 4.11%, on most programs, when allowed, except for GEAR UP which allows an indirect rate of 8% and the indirect rate of 12.42% on Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund, American Rescue Plan (ARP) – Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Funds, and Beginning Educator Support Team ESA Grant. The Highline Public Schools used the federal restricted rate of 4.11%, on most programs, when allowed, except for GEAR UP which allows an indirect rate of 8% and the indirect rate of 12.42% on Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund, American Rescue Plan (ARP) – Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Funds, and Beginning Educator Support Team ESA Grant. The Highline Public School's elected not to use the 10-percent de Minimis indirect cost rate allowed under the Uniform Guidance.
Title: NOTE 3-PROGRAM COSTS/MATCHING CONTRIBUTIONS Accounting Policies: The Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards is prepared on the same basis of accounting as the Highline Public School's financial statements. The Highline Public School uses the Modified Accrual basis of accounting. De Minimis Rate Used: N Rate Explanation: The Highline Public Schools used the federal restricted rate of 4.11%, on most programs, when allowed, except for GEAR UP which allows an indirect rate of 8% and the indirect rate of 12.42% on Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund, American Rescue Plan (ARP) – Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Funds, and Beginning Educator Support Team ESA Grant. The amounts shown as current year expenses represent only the federal grant portion of the program costs. Entire program costs, including the Highline Public School's local matching share, may be more than shown. Such expenditures are recognized following, as applicable, either the cost principles in the OMB Circular A-87, Cost Principles for State, Local, and Indian Tribal Governments, or the cost principles contained in Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations Part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards, wherein certain types of expenditures are not allowable or are limited as to reimbursement.
Title: NOTE 4-NONCASH AWARDS Accounting Policies: The Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards is prepared on the same basis of accounting as the Highline Public School's financial statements. The Highline Public School uses the Modified Accrual basis of accounting. De Minimis Rate Used: N Rate Explanation: The Highline Public Schools used the federal restricted rate of 4.11%, on most programs, when allowed, except for GEAR UP which allows an indirect rate of 8% and the indirect rate of 12.42% on Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund, American Rescue Plan (ARP) – Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Funds, and Beginning Educator Support Team ESA Grant. The number of commodities reported on the schedule is the value of commodities distributed by the Highline Public School's during the current year and priced as prescribed by Value of Commodities Shipped Report.
Title: NOTE 5-SCHOOLWIDE PROGRAMS Accounting Policies: The Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards is prepared on the same basis of accounting as the Highline Public School's financial statements. The Highline Public School uses the Modified Accrual basis of accounting. De Minimis Rate Used: N Rate Explanation: The Highline Public Schools used the federal restricted rate of 4.11%, on most programs, when allowed, except for GEAR UP which allows an indirect rate of 8% and the indirect rate of 12.42% on Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund, American Rescue Plan (ARP) – Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Funds, and Beginning Educator Support Team ESA Grant. The Highline Public School's operates a "school wide program" in nineteen elementary and nineteen secondary schools. Using federal funding, school wide programs are designed to upgrade an entire educational program within a school for all students, rather than limit services to certain targeted students. The following federal program amounts were expended by the Highline Public Schools in its school wide program: Title I Part A (84.010) $8,357,468.54; OSSI Comprehensive Schools (84.010) $94,808.82; OSSI Targeted 3+ (84.010) $71,506.22; OSSI Comprehensive - Low Graduation (84.010) $21,300.84; ESSER I Grant (84.425D) $16,231.34; Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund – ESSER II (84.425D) $16,665,422.24; American Rescue Plan (ARP) - Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund – ESSER III (84.425D) $414,262.27; American Rescue Plan (ARP) - Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund – ESSER III – Learning Loss (84.425D) $3,944,839.10.

Finding Details

2022-001 The District did not have adequate internal controls for ensuring compliance with federal wage rate requirements. Assistance Listing Number and Title: 84.425, COVID-19 – Education Stabilization Fund Federal Grantor Name: U.S. Department of Education Federal Award/Contract Number: N/A Pass-through Entity Name: Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction Pass-through Award/Contract Number: COVID-19, 84.425W-0459544 COVID-19, 84.425W-0459014 COVID-19, 84.425U-0140613 COVID-19, 84.425U-0140072 COVID-19, 84.425U-0140021 COVID-19, 84.425D-0120523 COVID-19, 84.425D-0138183 COVID-19, 84.425D-0137204 COVID-19, 84.425D-0120128 COVID-19, 84.425U-0712015 Known Questioned Cost Amount: $0 Prior Year Audit Finding: N/A Background The objectives of the Education Stabilization Fund (ESF) program are to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. In fiscal year 2022, the District spent $20,271,990 in federal funding under its ESF awards. This included $20,191,081 in the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER II) Fund subprogram (84.425D), $49,173 in the American Rescue Plan Elementary and School Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER/ESSER III) subprogram (84.425U), and $31,736 in the American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief – Homeless Children and Youth (ARP-HCY) subprogram (84.425W). Federal regulations require award recipients to establish and follow internal controls that ensure compliance with program requirements. These controls include understanding program requirements and monitoring the effectiveness of established controls. Under federal wage rate requirements, also known as the Davis-Bacon Act, contractors and subcontractors that work on projects financed with more than $2,000 of federal money must pay laborers and mechanics wage rates that the U.S. Department of Labor considers being similar to what local workers have been paid for similar projects. For construction contracts subject to these wage rate requirements, the District must include a provision that the contractors and subcontractors comply with those requirements and the Department of Labor’s regulations. This includes a requirement for the contractor and its subcontractor to submit to the District weekly, for each week in which any contract work is performed, certified payroll reports. These reports must include a copy of the payroll and a signed statement of compliance. Description of Condition During the 2021–22 school year, the District paid $3,073,462 from its ESSER II and ESSER III awards to one contractor. This contractor upgraded some of the District’s antiquated heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems to improve air quality and circulation to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Our audit found that the District did not have adequate internal controls for ensuring compliance with federal prevailing wage rate requirements. Specifically, the District did not collect and review weekly certified payroll reports from the contractor to confirm it paid laborers proper prevailing wages. We consider this internal control deficiency to be a material weakness that led to material noncompliance. Cause of Condition District staff were aware of state prevailing wage requirements. However, since this was the first construction project the District paid for with federal funds, staff were unaware of the federal requirement to obtain weekly certified payroll reports. Effect of Condition Without adequate internal controls that ensure it collects all weekly certified payroll reports, the District cannot demonstrate it complied with federal wage rate requirements. The District could be liable for paying any additional wages if the contractor and its subcontractors did not pay prevailing wage rates to laborers working on the contract. During the audit period, the District was required to collect certified payroll reports from one contractor. We found that the District did not obtain any of the weekly certified payroll reports. Recommendation We recommend the District develop internal controls that ensure compliance with federal prevailing wage rate requirements. This should include implementing an effective monitoring process to collect and review all weekly certified payroll reports in a timely manner from contractors and subcontractors. District’s Response The District stewards public resources carefully and takes pride in developing and maintaining strong internal controls. The District has already made adjustments in response to this finding to ensure compliance for Federally funded construction projects. Going forward, the District will also ensure staff are appropriately trained on these requirements. The context of this finding is that the District had established internal controls to check for compliance with state prevailing wage requirements. Until 2021-22, the District very rarely utilized Federal funds for public works contracts, and thus the unique and complex nature of these Federal resources and the requirements around their use were unanticipated. When made aware of this oversight during the audit, the District took steps to review certified payroll documents from the beginning of the project to the current period, and to verify that contractors were in compliance with Federal prevailing wage rules. The District respects and values the work of the State Auditor’s Office in conducting their annual audit. However, given that numerous districts across the state were provided with one-time federal ESSER dollars to mitigate the impacts of a global pandemic, and that Federal funds are rarely used by districts to support public works projects, all districts would have benefited from clearer guidance and caution by supporting state agencies around these additional federal reporting requirements. Auditor’s Remarks We appreciate the District’s commitment to resolving the issue. We will review the condition during our next audit. Applicable Laws and Regulations Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance), section 516, Audit findings, establishes reporting requirements for audit findings. Title 2 CFR Part 200, Uniform Guidance, section 303, Internal controls, describes the requirements for auditees to maintain internal controls over federal programs and comply with federal program requirements. The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants defines significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in its Codification of Statements on Auditing Standards, section 935, Compliance Audits, paragraph 11. Title 29 CFR, Section 3.3 – Weekly statement with respect to payment of wages, and Section 3.4 – Submission of weekly statements and the preservation and inspection of weekly payroll records, establishes requirements for contractor or subcontractor submission of weekly certified payroll reports. Title 29 CFR, Section 5.5 – Contract provisions and related matters establishes the requirements for the contracting officer to insert in full in any contract in excess of $2,000 which is entered into for the actual construction, alteration and/or repair, including painting and decorating, of a public building or public work, or building or work financed in whole or in part with federal funds the clauses listed, which includes but is not limited to the minimum wages to be paid and payrolls and basic records to be maintained (submission of weekly certified payrolls).
2022-001 The District did not have adequate internal controls for ensuring compliance with federal wage rate requirements. Assistance Listing Number and Title: 84.425, COVID-19 – Education Stabilization Fund Federal Grantor Name: U.S. Department of Education Federal Award/Contract Number: N/A Pass-through Entity Name: Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction Pass-through Award/Contract Number: COVID-19, 84.425W-0459544 COVID-19, 84.425W-0459014 COVID-19, 84.425U-0140613 COVID-19, 84.425U-0140072 COVID-19, 84.425U-0140021 COVID-19, 84.425D-0120523 COVID-19, 84.425D-0138183 COVID-19, 84.425D-0137204 COVID-19, 84.425D-0120128 COVID-19, 84.425U-0712015 Known Questioned Cost Amount: $0 Prior Year Audit Finding: N/A Background The objectives of the Education Stabilization Fund (ESF) program are to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. In fiscal year 2022, the District spent $20,271,990 in federal funding under its ESF awards. This included $20,191,081 in the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER II) Fund subprogram (84.425D), $49,173 in the American Rescue Plan Elementary and School Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER/ESSER III) subprogram (84.425U), and $31,736 in the American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief – Homeless Children and Youth (ARP-HCY) subprogram (84.425W). Federal regulations require award recipients to establish and follow internal controls that ensure compliance with program requirements. These controls include understanding program requirements and monitoring the effectiveness of established controls. Under federal wage rate requirements, also known as the Davis-Bacon Act, contractors and subcontractors that work on projects financed with more than $2,000 of federal money must pay laborers and mechanics wage rates that the U.S. Department of Labor considers being similar to what local workers have been paid for similar projects. For construction contracts subject to these wage rate requirements, the District must include a provision that the contractors and subcontractors comply with those requirements and the Department of Labor’s regulations. This includes a requirement for the contractor and its subcontractor to submit to the District weekly, for each week in which any contract work is performed, certified payroll reports. These reports must include a copy of the payroll and a signed statement of compliance. Description of Condition During the 2021–22 school year, the District paid $3,073,462 from its ESSER II and ESSER III awards to one contractor. This contractor upgraded some of the District’s antiquated heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems to improve air quality and circulation to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Our audit found that the District did not have adequate internal controls for ensuring compliance with federal prevailing wage rate requirements. Specifically, the District did not collect and review weekly certified payroll reports from the contractor to confirm it paid laborers proper prevailing wages. We consider this internal control deficiency to be a material weakness that led to material noncompliance. Cause of Condition District staff were aware of state prevailing wage requirements. However, since this was the first construction project the District paid for with federal funds, staff were unaware of the federal requirement to obtain weekly certified payroll reports. Effect of Condition Without adequate internal controls that ensure it collects all weekly certified payroll reports, the District cannot demonstrate it complied with federal wage rate requirements. The District could be liable for paying any additional wages if the contractor and its subcontractors did not pay prevailing wage rates to laborers working on the contract. During the audit period, the District was required to collect certified payroll reports from one contractor. We found that the District did not obtain any of the weekly certified payroll reports. Recommendation We recommend the District develop internal controls that ensure compliance with federal prevailing wage rate requirements. This should include implementing an effective monitoring process to collect and review all weekly certified payroll reports in a timely manner from contractors and subcontractors. District’s Response The District stewards public resources carefully and takes pride in developing and maintaining strong internal controls. The District has already made adjustments in response to this finding to ensure compliance for Federally funded construction projects. Going forward, the District will also ensure staff are appropriately trained on these requirements. The context of this finding is that the District had established internal controls to check for compliance with state prevailing wage requirements. Until 2021-22, the District very rarely utilized Federal funds for public works contracts, and thus the unique and complex nature of these Federal resources and the requirements around their use were unanticipated. When made aware of this oversight during the audit, the District took steps to review certified payroll documents from the beginning of the project to the current period, and to verify that contractors were in compliance with Federal prevailing wage rules. The District respects and values the work of the State Auditor’s Office in conducting their annual audit. However, given that numerous districts across the state were provided with one-time federal ESSER dollars to mitigate the impacts of a global pandemic, and that Federal funds are rarely used by districts to support public works projects, all districts would have benefited from clearer guidance and caution by supporting state agencies around these additional federal reporting requirements. Auditor’s Remarks We appreciate the District’s commitment to resolving the issue. We will review the condition during our next audit. Applicable Laws and Regulations Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance), section 516, Audit findings, establishes reporting requirements for audit findings. Title 2 CFR Part 200, Uniform Guidance, section 303, Internal controls, describes the requirements for auditees to maintain internal controls over federal programs and comply with federal program requirements. The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants defines significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in its Codification of Statements on Auditing Standards, section 935, Compliance Audits, paragraph 11. Title 29 CFR, Section 3.3 – Weekly statement with respect to payment of wages, and Section 3.4 – Submission of weekly statements and the preservation and inspection of weekly payroll records, establishes requirements for contractor or subcontractor submission of weekly certified payroll reports. Title 29 CFR, Section 5.5 – Contract provisions and related matters establishes the requirements for the contracting officer to insert in full in any contract in excess of $2,000 which is entered into for the actual construction, alteration and/or repair, including painting and decorating, of a public building or public work, or building or work financed in whole or in part with federal funds the clauses listed, which includes but is not limited to the minimum wages to be paid and payrolls and basic records to be maintained (submission of weekly certified payrolls).
2022-001 The District did not have adequate internal controls for ensuring compliance with federal wage rate requirements. Assistance Listing Number and Title: 84.425, COVID-19 – Education Stabilization Fund Federal Grantor Name: U.S. Department of Education Federal Award/Contract Number: N/A Pass-through Entity Name: Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction Pass-through Award/Contract Number: COVID-19, 84.425W-0459544 COVID-19, 84.425W-0459014 COVID-19, 84.425U-0140613 COVID-19, 84.425U-0140072 COVID-19, 84.425U-0140021 COVID-19, 84.425D-0120523 COVID-19, 84.425D-0138183 COVID-19, 84.425D-0137204 COVID-19, 84.425D-0120128 COVID-19, 84.425U-0712015 Known Questioned Cost Amount: $0 Prior Year Audit Finding: N/A Background The objectives of the Education Stabilization Fund (ESF) program are to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. In fiscal year 2022, the District spent $20,271,990 in federal funding under its ESF awards. This included $20,191,081 in the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER II) Fund subprogram (84.425D), $49,173 in the American Rescue Plan Elementary and School Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER/ESSER III) subprogram (84.425U), and $31,736 in the American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief – Homeless Children and Youth (ARP-HCY) subprogram (84.425W). Federal regulations require award recipients to establish and follow internal controls that ensure compliance with program requirements. These controls include understanding program requirements and monitoring the effectiveness of established controls. Under federal wage rate requirements, also known as the Davis-Bacon Act, contractors and subcontractors that work on projects financed with more than $2,000 of federal money must pay laborers and mechanics wage rates that the U.S. Department of Labor considers being similar to what local workers have been paid for similar projects. For construction contracts subject to these wage rate requirements, the District must include a provision that the contractors and subcontractors comply with those requirements and the Department of Labor’s regulations. This includes a requirement for the contractor and its subcontractor to submit to the District weekly, for each week in which any contract work is performed, certified payroll reports. These reports must include a copy of the payroll and a signed statement of compliance. Description of Condition During the 2021–22 school year, the District paid $3,073,462 from its ESSER II and ESSER III awards to one contractor. This contractor upgraded some of the District’s antiquated heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems to improve air quality and circulation to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Our audit found that the District did not have adequate internal controls for ensuring compliance with federal prevailing wage rate requirements. Specifically, the District did not collect and review weekly certified payroll reports from the contractor to confirm it paid laborers proper prevailing wages. We consider this internal control deficiency to be a material weakness that led to material noncompliance. Cause of Condition District staff were aware of state prevailing wage requirements. However, since this was the first construction project the District paid for with federal funds, staff were unaware of the federal requirement to obtain weekly certified payroll reports. Effect of Condition Without adequate internal controls that ensure it collects all weekly certified payroll reports, the District cannot demonstrate it complied with federal wage rate requirements. The District could be liable for paying any additional wages if the contractor and its subcontractors did not pay prevailing wage rates to laborers working on the contract. During the audit period, the District was required to collect certified payroll reports from one contractor. We found that the District did not obtain any of the weekly certified payroll reports. Recommendation We recommend the District develop internal controls that ensure compliance with federal prevailing wage rate requirements. This should include implementing an effective monitoring process to collect and review all weekly certified payroll reports in a timely manner from contractors and subcontractors. District’s Response The District stewards public resources carefully and takes pride in developing and maintaining strong internal controls. The District has already made adjustments in response to this finding to ensure compliance for Federally funded construction projects. Going forward, the District will also ensure staff are appropriately trained on these requirements. The context of this finding is that the District had established internal controls to check for compliance with state prevailing wage requirements. Until 2021-22, the District very rarely utilized Federal funds for public works contracts, and thus the unique and complex nature of these Federal resources and the requirements around their use were unanticipated. When made aware of this oversight during the audit, the District took steps to review certified payroll documents from the beginning of the project to the current period, and to verify that contractors were in compliance with Federal prevailing wage rules. The District respects and values the work of the State Auditor’s Office in conducting their annual audit. However, given that numerous districts across the state were provided with one-time federal ESSER dollars to mitigate the impacts of a global pandemic, and that Federal funds are rarely used by districts to support public works projects, all districts would have benefited from clearer guidance and caution by supporting state agencies around these additional federal reporting requirements. Auditor’s Remarks We appreciate the District’s commitment to resolving the issue. We will review the condition during our next audit. Applicable Laws and Regulations Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance), section 516, Audit findings, establishes reporting requirements for audit findings. Title 2 CFR Part 200, Uniform Guidance, section 303, Internal controls, describes the requirements for auditees to maintain internal controls over federal programs and comply with federal program requirements. The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants defines significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in its Codification of Statements on Auditing Standards, section 935, Compliance Audits, paragraph 11. Title 29 CFR, Section 3.3 – Weekly statement with respect to payment of wages, and Section 3.4 – Submission of weekly statements and the preservation and inspection of weekly payroll records, establishes requirements for contractor or subcontractor submission of weekly certified payroll reports. Title 29 CFR, Section 5.5 – Contract provisions and related matters establishes the requirements for the contracting officer to insert in full in any contract in excess of $2,000 which is entered into for the actual construction, alteration and/or repair, including painting and decorating, of a public building or public work, or building or work financed in whole or in part with federal funds the clauses listed, which includes but is not limited to the minimum wages to be paid and payrolls and basic records to be maintained (submission of weekly certified payrolls).
2022-001 The District did not have adequate internal controls for ensuring compliance with federal wage rate requirements. Assistance Listing Number and Title: 84.425, COVID-19 – Education Stabilization Fund Federal Grantor Name: U.S. Department of Education Federal Award/Contract Number: N/A Pass-through Entity Name: Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction Pass-through Award/Contract Number: COVID-19, 84.425W-0459544 COVID-19, 84.425W-0459014 COVID-19, 84.425U-0140613 COVID-19, 84.425U-0140072 COVID-19, 84.425U-0140021 COVID-19, 84.425D-0120523 COVID-19, 84.425D-0138183 COVID-19, 84.425D-0137204 COVID-19, 84.425D-0120128 COVID-19, 84.425U-0712015 Known Questioned Cost Amount: $0 Prior Year Audit Finding: N/A Background The objectives of the Education Stabilization Fund (ESF) program are to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. In fiscal year 2022, the District spent $20,271,990 in federal funding under its ESF awards. This included $20,191,081 in the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER II) Fund subprogram (84.425D), $49,173 in the American Rescue Plan Elementary and School Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER/ESSER III) subprogram (84.425U), and $31,736 in the American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief – Homeless Children and Youth (ARP-HCY) subprogram (84.425W). Federal regulations require award recipients to establish and follow internal controls that ensure compliance with program requirements. These controls include understanding program requirements and monitoring the effectiveness of established controls. Under federal wage rate requirements, also known as the Davis-Bacon Act, contractors and subcontractors that work on projects financed with more than $2,000 of federal money must pay laborers and mechanics wage rates that the U.S. Department of Labor considers being similar to what local workers have been paid for similar projects. For construction contracts subject to these wage rate requirements, the District must include a provision that the contractors and subcontractors comply with those requirements and the Department of Labor’s regulations. This includes a requirement for the contractor and its subcontractor to submit to the District weekly, for each week in which any contract work is performed, certified payroll reports. These reports must include a copy of the payroll and a signed statement of compliance. Description of Condition During the 2021–22 school year, the District paid $3,073,462 from its ESSER II and ESSER III awards to one contractor. This contractor upgraded some of the District’s antiquated heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems to improve air quality and circulation to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Our audit found that the District did not have adequate internal controls for ensuring compliance with federal prevailing wage rate requirements. Specifically, the District did not collect and review weekly certified payroll reports from the contractor to confirm it paid laborers proper prevailing wages. We consider this internal control deficiency to be a material weakness that led to material noncompliance. Cause of Condition District staff were aware of state prevailing wage requirements. However, since this was the first construction project the District paid for with federal funds, staff were unaware of the federal requirement to obtain weekly certified payroll reports. Effect of Condition Without adequate internal controls that ensure it collects all weekly certified payroll reports, the District cannot demonstrate it complied with federal wage rate requirements. The District could be liable for paying any additional wages if the contractor and its subcontractors did not pay prevailing wage rates to laborers working on the contract. During the audit period, the District was required to collect certified payroll reports from one contractor. We found that the District did not obtain any of the weekly certified payroll reports. Recommendation We recommend the District develop internal controls that ensure compliance with federal prevailing wage rate requirements. This should include implementing an effective monitoring process to collect and review all weekly certified payroll reports in a timely manner from contractors and subcontractors. District’s Response The District stewards public resources carefully and takes pride in developing and maintaining strong internal controls. The District has already made adjustments in response to this finding to ensure compliance for Federally funded construction projects. Going forward, the District will also ensure staff are appropriately trained on these requirements. The context of this finding is that the District had established internal controls to check for compliance with state prevailing wage requirements. Until 2021-22, the District very rarely utilized Federal funds for public works contracts, and thus the unique and complex nature of these Federal resources and the requirements around their use were unanticipated. When made aware of this oversight during the audit, the District took steps to review certified payroll documents from the beginning of the project to the current period, and to verify that contractors were in compliance with Federal prevailing wage rules. The District respects and values the work of the State Auditor’s Office in conducting their annual audit. However, given that numerous districts across the state were provided with one-time federal ESSER dollars to mitigate the impacts of a global pandemic, and that Federal funds are rarely used by districts to support public works projects, all districts would have benefited from clearer guidance and caution by supporting state agencies around these additional federal reporting requirements. Auditor’s Remarks We appreciate the District’s commitment to resolving the issue. We will review the condition during our next audit. Applicable Laws and Regulations Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance), section 516, Audit findings, establishes reporting requirements for audit findings. Title 2 CFR Part 200, Uniform Guidance, section 303, Internal controls, describes the requirements for auditees to maintain internal controls over federal programs and comply with federal program requirements. The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants defines significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in its Codification of Statements on Auditing Standards, section 935, Compliance Audits, paragraph 11. Title 29 CFR, Section 3.3 – Weekly statement with respect to payment of wages, and Section 3.4 – Submission of weekly statements and the preservation and inspection of weekly payroll records, establishes requirements for contractor or subcontractor submission of weekly certified payroll reports. Title 29 CFR, Section 5.5 – Contract provisions and related matters establishes the requirements for the contracting officer to insert in full in any contract in excess of $2,000 which is entered into for the actual construction, alteration and/or repair, including painting and decorating, of a public building or public work, or building or work financed in whole or in part with federal funds the clauses listed, which includes but is not limited to the minimum wages to be paid and payrolls and basic records to be maintained (submission of weekly certified payrolls).
2022-001 The District did not have adequate internal controls for ensuring compliance with federal wage rate requirements. Assistance Listing Number and Title: 84.425, COVID-19 – Education Stabilization Fund Federal Grantor Name: U.S. Department of Education Federal Award/Contract Number: N/A Pass-through Entity Name: Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction Pass-through Award/Contract Number: COVID-19, 84.425W-0459544 COVID-19, 84.425W-0459014 COVID-19, 84.425U-0140613 COVID-19, 84.425U-0140072 COVID-19, 84.425U-0140021 COVID-19, 84.425D-0120523 COVID-19, 84.425D-0138183 COVID-19, 84.425D-0137204 COVID-19, 84.425D-0120128 COVID-19, 84.425U-0712015 Known Questioned Cost Amount: $0 Prior Year Audit Finding: N/A Background The objectives of the Education Stabilization Fund (ESF) program are to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. In fiscal year 2022, the District spent $20,271,990 in federal funding under its ESF awards. This included $20,191,081 in the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER II) Fund subprogram (84.425D), $49,173 in the American Rescue Plan Elementary and School Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER/ESSER III) subprogram (84.425U), and $31,736 in the American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief – Homeless Children and Youth (ARP-HCY) subprogram (84.425W). Federal regulations require award recipients to establish and follow internal controls that ensure compliance with program requirements. These controls include understanding program requirements and monitoring the effectiveness of established controls. Under federal wage rate requirements, also known as the Davis-Bacon Act, contractors and subcontractors that work on projects financed with more than $2,000 of federal money must pay laborers and mechanics wage rates that the U.S. Department of Labor considers being similar to what local workers have been paid for similar projects. For construction contracts subject to these wage rate requirements, the District must include a provision that the contractors and subcontractors comply with those requirements and the Department of Labor’s regulations. This includes a requirement for the contractor and its subcontractor to submit to the District weekly, for each week in which any contract work is performed, certified payroll reports. These reports must include a copy of the payroll and a signed statement of compliance. Description of Condition During the 2021–22 school year, the District paid $3,073,462 from its ESSER II and ESSER III awards to one contractor. This contractor upgraded some of the District’s antiquated heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems to improve air quality and circulation to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Our audit found that the District did not have adequate internal controls for ensuring compliance with federal prevailing wage rate requirements. Specifically, the District did not collect and review weekly certified payroll reports from the contractor to confirm it paid laborers proper prevailing wages. We consider this internal control deficiency to be a material weakness that led to material noncompliance. Cause of Condition District staff were aware of state prevailing wage requirements. However, since this was the first construction project the District paid for with federal funds, staff were unaware of the federal requirement to obtain weekly certified payroll reports. Effect of Condition Without adequate internal controls that ensure it collects all weekly certified payroll reports, the District cannot demonstrate it complied with federal wage rate requirements. The District could be liable for paying any additional wages if the contractor and its subcontractors did not pay prevailing wage rates to laborers working on the contract. During the audit period, the District was required to collect certified payroll reports from one contractor. We found that the District did not obtain any of the weekly certified payroll reports. Recommendation We recommend the District develop internal controls that ensure compliance with federal prevailing wage rate requirements. This should include implementing an effective monitoring process to collect and review all weekly certified payroll reports in a timely manner from contractors and subcontractors. District’s Response The District stewards public resources carefully and takes pride in developing and maintaining strong internal controls. The District has already made adjustments in response to this finding to ensure compliance for Federally funded construction projects. Going forward, the District will also ensure staff are appropriately trained on these requirements. The context of this finding is that the District had established internal controls to check for compliance with state prevailing wage requirements. Until 2021-22, the District very rarely utilized Federal funds for public works contracts, and thus the unique and complex nature of these Federal resources and the requirements around their use were unanticipated. When made aware of this oversight during the audit, the District took steps to review certified payroll documents from the beginning of the project to the current period, and to verify that contractors were in compliance with Federal prevailing wage rules. The District respects and values the work of the State Auditor’s Office in conducting their annual audit. However, given that numerous districts across the state were provided with one-time federal ESSER dollars to mitigate the impacts of a global pandemic, and that Federal funds are rarely used by districts to support public works projects, all districts would have benefited from clearer guidance and caution by supporting state agencies around these additional federal reporting requirements. Auditor’s Remarks We appreciate the District’s commitment to resolving the issue. We will review the condition during our next audit. Applicable Laws and Regulations Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance), section 516, Audit findings, establishes reporting requirements for audit findings. Title 2 CFR Part 200, Uniform Guidance, section 303, Internal controls, describes the requirements for auditees to maintain internal controls over federal programs and comply with federal program requirements. The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants defines significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in its Codification of Statements on Auditing Standards, section 935, Compliance Audits, paragraph 11. Title 29 CFR, Section 3.3 – Weekly statement with respect to payment of wages, and Section 3.4 – Submission of weekly statements and the preservation and inspection of weekly payroll records, establishes requirements for contractor or subcontractor submission of weekly certified payroll reports. Title 29 CFR, Section 5.5 – Contract provisions and related matters establishes the requirements for the contracting officer to insert in full in any contract in excess of $2,000 which is entered into for the actual construction, alteration and/or repair, including painting and decorating, of a public building or public work, or building or work financed in whole or in part with federal funds the clauses listed, which includes but is not limited to the minimum wages to be paid and payrolls and basic records to be maintained (submission of weekly certified payrolls).
2022-001 The District did not have adequate internal controls for ensuring compliance with federal wage rate requirements. Assistance Listing Number and Title: 84.425, COVID-19 – Education Stabilization Fund Federal Grantor Name: U.S. Department of Education Federal Award/Contract Number: N/A Pass-through Entity Name: Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction Pass-through Award/Contract Number: COVID-19, 84.425W-0459544 COVID-19, 84.425W-0459014 COVID-19, 84.425U-0140613 COVID-19, 84.425U-0140072 COVID-19, 84.425U-0140021 COVID-19, 84.425D-0120523 COVID-19, 84.425D-0138183 COVID-19, 84.425D-0137204 COVID-19, 84.425D-0120128 COVID-19, 84.425U-0712015 Known Questioned Cost Amount: $0 Prior Year Audit Finding: N/A Background The objectives of the Education Stabilization Fund (ESF) program are to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. In fiscal year 2022, the District spent $20,271,990 in federal funding under its ESF awards. This included $20,191,081 in the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER II) Fund subprogram (84.425D), $49,173 in the American Rescue Plan Elementary and School Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER/ESSER III) subprogram (84.425U), and $31,736 in the American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief – Homeless Children and Youth (ARP-HCY) subprogram (84.425W). Federal regulations require award recipients to establish and follow internal controls that ensure compliance with program requirements. These controls include understanding program requirements and monitoring the effectiveness of established controls. Under federal wage rate requirements, also known as the Davis-Bacon Act, contractors and subcontractors that work on projects financed with more than $2,000 of federal money must pay laborers and mechanics wage rates that the U.S. Department of Labor considers being similar to what local workers have been paid for similar projects. For construction contracts subject to these wage rate requirements, the District must include a provision that the contractors and subcontractors comply with those requirements and the Department of Labor’s regulations. This includes a requirement for the contractor and its subcontractor to submit to the District weekly, for each week in which any contract work is performed, certified payroll reports. These reports must include a copy of the payroll and a signed statement of compliance. Description of Condition During the 2021–22 school year, the District paid $3,073,462 from its ESSER II and ESSER III awards to one contractor. This contractor upgraded some of the District’s antiquated heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems to improve air quality and circulation to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Our audit found that the District did not have adequate internal controls for ensuring compliance with federal prevailing wage rate requirements. Specifically, the District did not collect and review weekly certified payroll reports from the contractor to confirm it paid laborers proper prevailing wages. We consider this internal control deficiency to be a material weakness that led to material noncompliance. Cause of Condition District staff were aware of state prevailing wage requirements. However, since this was the first construction project the District paid for with federal funds, staff were unaware of the federal requirement to obtain weekly certified payroll reports. Effect of Condition Without adequate internal controls that ensure it collects all weekly certified payroll reports, the District cannot demonstrate it complied with federal wage rate requirements. The District could be liable for paying any additional wages if the contractor and its subcontractors did not pay prevailing wage rates to laborers working on the contract. During the audit period, the District was required to collect certified payroll reports from one contractor. We found that the District did not obtain any of the weekly certified payroll reports. Recommendation We recommend the District develop internal controls that ensure compliance with federal prevailing wage rate requirements. This should include implementing an effective monitoring process to collect and review all weekly certified payroll reports in a timely manner from contractors and subcontractors. District’s Response The District stewards public resources carefully and takes pride in developing and maintaining strong internal controls. The District has already made adjustments in response to this finding to ensure compliance for Federally funded construction projects. Going forward, the District will also ensure staff are appropriately trained on these requirements. The context of this finding is that the District had established internal controls to check for compliance with state prevailing wage requirements. Until 2021-22, the District very rarely utilized Federal funds for public works contracts, and thus the unique and complex nature of these Federal resources and the requirements around their use were unanticipated. When made aware of this oversight during the audit, the District took steps to review certified payroll documents from the beginning of the project to the current period, and to verify that contractors were in compliance with Federal prevailing wage rules. The District respects and values the work of the State Auditor’s Office in conducting their annual audit. However, given that numerous districts across the state were provided with one-time federal ESSER dollars to mitigate the impacts of a global pandemic, and that Federal funds are rarely used by districts to support public works projects, all districts would have benefited from clearer guidance and caution by supporting state agencies around these additional federal reporting requirements. Auditor’s Remarks We appreciate the District’s commitment to resolving the issue. We will review the condition during our next audit. Applicable Laws and Regulations Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance), section 516, Audit findings, establishes reporting requirements for audit findings. Title 2 CFR Part 200, Uniform Guidance, section 303, Internal controls, describes the requirements for auditees to maintain internal controls over federal programs and comply with federal program requirements. The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants defines significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in its Codification of Statements on Auditing Standards, section 935, Compliance Audits, paragraph 11. Title 29 CFR, Section 3.3 – Weekly statement with respect to payment of wages, and Section 3.4 – Submission of weekly statements and the preservation and inspection of weekly payroll records, establishes requirements for contractor or subcontractor submission of weekly certified payroll reports. Title 29 CFR, Section 5.5 – Contract provisions and related matters establishes the requirements for the contracting officer to insert in full in any contract in excess of $2,000 which is entered into for the actual construction, alteration and/or repair, including painting and decorating, of a public building or public work, or building or work financed in whole or in part with federal funds the clauses listed, which includes but is not limited to the minimum wages to be paid and payrolls and basic records to be maintained (submission of weekly certified payrolls).
2022-001 The District did not have adequate internal controls for ensuring compliance with federal wage rate requirements. Assistance Listing Number and Title: 84.425, COVID-19 – Education Stabilization Fund Federal Grantor Name: U.S. Department of Education Federal Award/Contract Number: N/A Pass-through Entity Name: Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction Pass-through Award/Contract Number: COVID-19, 84.425W-0459544 COVID-19, 84.425W-0459014 COVID-19, 84.425U-0140613 COVID-19, 84.425U-0140072 COVID-19, 84.425U-0140021 COVID-19, 84.425D-0120523 COVID-19, 84.425D-0138183 COVID-19, 84.425D-0137204 COVID-19, 84.425D-0120128 COVID-19, 84.425U-0712015 Known Questioned Cost Amount: $0 Prior Year Audit Finding: N/A Background The objectives of the Education Stabilization Fund (ESF) program are to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. In fiscal year 2022, the District spent $20,271,990 in federal funding under its ESF awards. This included $20,191,081 in the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER II) Fund subprogram (84.425D), $49,173 in the American Rescue Plan Elementary and School Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER/ESSER III) subprogram (84.425U), and $31,736 in the American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief – Homeless Children and Youth (ARP-HCY) subprogram (84.425W). Federal regulations require award recipients to establish and follow internal controls that ensure compliance with program requirements. These controls include understanding program requirements and monitoring the effectiveness of established controls. Under federal wage rate requirements, also known as the Davis-Bacon Act, contractors and subcontractors that work on projects financed with more than $2,000 of federal money must pay laborers and mechanics wage rates that the U.S. Department of Labor considers being similar to what local workers have been paid for similar projects. For construction contracts subject to these wage rate requirements, the District must include a provision that the contractors and subcontractors comply with those requirements and the Department of Labor’s regulations. This includes a requirement for the contractor and its subcontractor to submit to the District weekly, for each week in which any contract work is performed, certified payroll reports. These reports must include a copy of the payroll and a signed statement of compliance. Description of Condition During the 2021–22 school year, the District paid $3,073,462 from its ESSER II and ESSER III awards to one contractor. This contractor upgraded some of the District’s antiquated heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems to improve air quality and circulation to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Our audit found that the District did not have adequate internal controls for ensuring compliance with federal prevailing wage rate requirements. Specifically, the District did not collect and review weekly certified payroll reports from the contractor to confirm it paid laborers proper prevailing wages. We consider this internal control deficiency to be a material weakness that led to material noncompliance. Cause of Condition District staff were aware of state prevailing wage requirements. However, since this was the first construction project the District paid for with federal funds, staff were unaware of the federal requirement to obtain weekly certified payroll reports. Effect of Condition Without adequate internal controls that ensure it collects all weekly certified payroll reports, the District cannot demonstrate it complied with federal wage rate requirements. The District could be liable for paying any additional wages if the contractor and its subcontractors did not pay prevailing wage rates to laborers working on the contract. During the audit period, the District was required to collect certified payroll reports from one contractor. We found that the District did not obtain any of the weekly certified payroll reports. Recommendation We recommend the District develop internal controls that ensure compliance with federal prevailing wage rate requirements. This should include implementing an effective monitoring process to collect and review all weekly certified payroll reports in a timely manner from contractors and subcontractors. District’s Response The District stewards public resources carefully and takes pride in developing and maintaining strong internal controls. The District has already made adjustments in response to this finding to ensure compliance for Federally funded construction projects. Going forward, the District will also ensure staff are appropriately trained on these requirements. The context of this finding is that the District had established internal controls to check for compliance with state prevailing wage requirements. Until 2021-22, the District very rarely utilized Federal funds for public works contracts, and thus the unique and complex nature of these Federal resources and the requirements around their use were unanticipated. When made aware of this oversight during the audit, the District took steps to review certified payroll documents from the beginning of the project to the current period, and to verify that contractors were in compliance with Federal prevailing wage rules. The District respects and values the work of the State Auditor’s Office in conducting their annual audit. However, given that numerous districts across the state were provided with one-time federal ESSER dollars to mitigate the impacts of a global pandemic, and that Federal funds are rarely used by districts to support public works projects, all districts would have benefited from clearer guidance and caution by supporting state agencies around these additional federal reporting requirements. Auditor’s Remarks We appreciate the District’s commitment to resolving the issue. We will review the condition during our next audit. Applicable Laws and Regulations Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance), section 516, Audit findings, establishes reporting requirements for audit findings. Title 2 CFR Part 200, Uniform Guidance, section 303, Internal controls, describes the requirements for auditees to maintain internal controls over federal programs and comply with federal program requirements. The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants defines significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in its Codification of Statements on Auditing Standards, section 935, Compliance Audits, paragraph 11. Title 29 CFR, Section 3.3 – Weekly statement with respect to payment of wages, and Section 3.4 – Submission of weekly statements and the preservation and inspection of weekly payroll records, establishes requirements for contractor or subcontractor submission of weekly certified payroll reports. Title 29 CFR, Section 5.5 – Contract provisions and related matters establishes the requirements for the contracting officer to insert in full in any contract in excess of $2,000 which is entered into for the actual construction, alteration and/or repair, including painting and decorating, of a public building or public work, or building or work financed in whole or in part with federal funds the clauses listed, which includes but is not limited to the minimum wages to be paid and payrolls and basic records to be maintained (submission of weekly certified payrolls).
2022-001 The District did not have adequate internal controls for ensuring compliance with federal wage rate requirements. Assistance Listing Number and Title: 84.425, COVID-19 – Education Stabilization Fund Federal Grantor Name: U.S. Department of Education Federal Award/Contract Number: N/A Pass-through Entity Name: Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction Pass-through Award/Contract Number: COVID-19, 84.425W-0459544 COVID-19, 84.425W-0459014 COVID-19, 84.425U-0140613 COVID-19, 84.425U-0140072 COVID-19, 84.425U-0140021 COVID-19, 84.425D-0120523 COVID-19, 84.425D-0138183 COVID-19, 84.425D-0137204 COVID-19, 84.425D-0120128 COVID-19, 84.425U-0712015 Known Questioned Cost Amount: $0 Prior Year Audit Finding: N/A Background The objectives of the Education Stabilization Fund (ESF) program are to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. In fiscal year 2022, the District spent $20,271,990 in federal funding under its ESF awards. This included $20,191,081 in the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER II) Fund subprogram (84.425D), $49,173 in the American Rescue Plan Elementary and School Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER/ESSER III) subprogram (84.425U), and $31,736 in the American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief – Homeless Children and Youth (ARP-HCY) subprogram (84.425W). Federal regulations require award recipients to establish and follow internal controls that ensure compliance with program requirements. These controls include understanding program requirements and monitoring the effectiveness of established controls. Under federal wage rate requirements, also known as the Davis-Bacon Act, contractors and subcontractors that work on projects financed with more than $2,000 of federal money must pay laborers and mechanics wage rates that the U.S. Department of Labor considers being similar to what local workers have been paid for similar projects. For construction contracts subject to these wage rate requirements, the District must include a provision that the contractors and subcontractors comply with those requirements and the Department of Labor’s regulations. This includes a requirement for the contractor and its subcontractor to submit to the District weekly, for each week in which any contract work is performed, certified payroll reports. These reports must include a copy of the payroll and a signed statement of compliance. Description of Condition During the 2021–22 school year, the District paid $3,073,462 from its ESSER II and ESSER III awards to one contractor. This contractor upgraded some of the District’s antiquated heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems to improve air quality and circulation to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Our audit found that the District did not have adequate internal controls for ensuring compliance with federal prevailing wage rate requirements. Specifically, the District did not collect and review weekly certified payroll reports from the contractor to confirm it paid laborers proper prevailing wages. We consider this internal control deficiency to be a material weakness that led to material noncompliance. Cause of Condition District staff were aware of state prevailing wage requirements. However, since this was the first construction project the District paid for with federal funds, staff were unaware of the federal requirement to obtain weekly certified payroll reports. Effect of Condition Without adequate internal controls that ensure it collects all weekly certified payroll reports, the District cannot demonstrate it complied with federal wage rate requirements. The District could be liable for paying any additional wages if the contractor and its subcontractors did not pay prevailing wage rates to laborers working on the contract. During the audit period, the District was required to collect certified payroll reports from one contractor. We found that the District did not obtain any of the weekly certified payroll reports. Recommendation We recommend the District develop internal controls that ensure compliance with federal prevailing wage rate requirements. This should include implementing an effective monitoring process to collect and review all weekly certified payroll reports in a timely manner from contractors and subcontractors. District’s Response The District stewards public resources carefully and takes pride in developing and maintaining strong internal controls. The District has already made adjustments in response to this finding to ensure compliance for Federally funded construction projects. Going forward, the District will also ensure staff are appropriately trained on these requirements. The context of this finding is that the District had established internal controls to check for compliance with state prevailing wage requirements. Until 2021-22, the District very rarely utilized Federal funds for public works contracts, and thus the unique and complex nature of these Federal resources and the requirements around their use were unanticipated. When made aware of this oversight during the audit, the District took steps to review certified payroll documents from the beginning of the project to the current period, and to verify that contractors were in compliance with Federal prevailing wage rules. The District respects and values the work of the State Auditor’s Office in conducting their annual audit. However, given that numerous districts across the state were provided with one-time federal ESSER dollars to mitigate the impacts of a global pandemic, and that Federal funds are rarely used by districts to support public works projects, all districts would have benefited from clearer guidance and caution by supporting state agencies around these additional federal reporting requirements. Auditor’s Remarks We appreciate the District’s commitment to resolving the issue. We will review the condition during our next audit. Applicable Laws and Regulations Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance), section 516, Audit findings, establishes reporting requirements for audit findings. Title 2 CFR Part 200, Uniform Guidance, section 303, Internal controls, describes the requirements for auditees to maintain internal controls over federal programs and comply with federal program requirements. The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants defines significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in its Codification of Statements on Auditing Standards, section 935, Compliance Audits, paragraph 11. Title 29 CFR, Section 3.3 – Weekly statement with respect to payment of wages, and Section 3.4 – Submission of weekly statements and the preservation and inspection of weekly payroll records, establishes requirements for contractor or subcontractor submission of weekly certified payroll reports. Title 29 CFR, Section 5.5 – Contract provisions and related matters establishes the requirements for the contracting officer to insert in full in any contract in excess of $2,000 which is entered into for the actual construction, alteration and/or repair, including painting and decorating, of a public building or public work, or building or work financed in whole or in part with federal funds the clauses listed, which includes but is not limited to the minimum wages to be paid and payrolls and basic records to be maintained (submission of weekly certified payrolls).
2022-001 The District did not have adequate internal controls for ensuring compliance with federal wage rate requirements. Assistance Listing Number and Title: 84.425, COVID-19 – Education Stabilization Fund Federal Grantor Name: U.S. Department of Education Federal Award/Contract Number: N/A Pass-through Entity Name: Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction Pass-through Award/Contract Number: COVID-19, 84.425W-0459544 COVID-19, 84.425W-0459014 COVID-19, 84.425U-0140613 COVID-19, 84.425U-0140072 COVID-19, 84.425U-0140021 COVID-19, 84.425D-0120523 COVID-19, 84.425D-0138183 COVID-19, 84.425D-0137204 COVID-19, 84.425D-0120128 COVID-19, 84.425U-0712015 Known Questioned Cost Amount: $0 Prior Year Audit Finding: N/A Background The objectives of the Education Stabilization Fund (ESF) program are to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. In fiscal year 2022, the District spent $20,271,990 in federal funding under its ESF awards. This included $20,191,081 in the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER II) Fund subprogram (84.425D), $49,173 in the American Rescue Plan Elementary and School Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER/ESSER III) subprogram (84.425U), and $31,736 in the American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief – Homeless Children and Youth (ARP-HCY) subprogram (84.425W). Federal regulations require award recipients to establish and follow internal controls that ensure compliance with program requirements. These controls include understanding program requirements and monitoring the effectiveness of established controls. Under federal wage rate requirements, also known as the Davis-Bacon Act, contractors and subcontractors that work on projects financed with more than $2,000 of federal money must pay laborers and mechanics wage rates that the U.S. Department of Labor considers being similar to what local workers have been paid for similar projects. For construction contracts subject to these wage rate requirements, the District must include a provision that the contractors and subcontractors comply with those requirements and the Department of Labor’s regulations. This includes a requirement for the contractor and its subcontractor to submit to the District weekly, for each week in which any contract work is performed, certified payroll reports. These reports must include a copy of the payroll and a signed statement of compliance. Description of Condition During the 2021–22 school year, the District paid $3,073,462 from its ESSER II and ESSER III awards to one contractor. This contractor upgraded some of the District’s antiquated heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems to improve air quality and circulation to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Our audit found that the District did not have adequate internal controls for ensuring compliance with federal prevailing wage rate requirements. Specifically, the District did not collect and review weekly certified payroll reports from the contractor to confirm it paid laborers proper prevailing wages. We consider this internal control deficiency to be a material weakness that led to material noncompliance. Cause of Condition District staff were aware of state prevailing wage requirements. However, since this was the first construction project the District paid for with federal funds, staff were unaware of the federal requirement to obtain weekly certified payroll reports. Effect of Condition Without adequate internal controls that ensure it collects all weekly certified payroll reports, the District cannot demonstrate it complied with federal wage rate requirements. The District could be liable for paying any additional wages if the contractor and its subcontractors did not pay prevailing wage rates to laborers working on the contract. During the audit period, the District was required to collect certified payroll reports from one contractor. We found that the District did not obtain any of the weekly certified payroll reports. Recommendation We recommend the District develop internal controls that ensure compliance with federal prevailing wage rate requirements. This should include implementing an effective monitoring process to collect and review all weekly certified payroll reports in a timely manner from contractors and subcontractors. District’s Response The District stewards public resources carefully and takes pride in developing and maintaining strong internal controls. The District has already made adjustments in response to this finding to ensure compliance for Federally funded construction projects. Going forward, the District will also ensure staff are appropriately trained on these requirements. The context of this finding is that the District had established internal controls to check for compliance with state prevailing wage requirements. Until 2021-22, the District very rarely utilized Federal funds for public works contracts, and thus the unique and complex nature of these Federal resources and the requirements around their use were unanticipated. When made aware of this oversight during the audit, the District took steps to review certified payroll documents from the beginning of the project to the current period, and to verify that contractors were in compliance with Federal prevailing wage rules. The District respects and values the work of the State Auditor’s Office in conducting their annual audit. However, given that numerous districts across the state were provided with one-time federal ESSER dollars to mitigate the impacts of a global pandemic, and that Federal funds are rarely used by districts to support public works projects, all districts would have benefited from clearer guidance and caution by supporting state agencies around these additional federal reporting requirements. Auditor’s Remarks We appreciate the District’s commitment to resolving the issue. We will review the condition during our next audit. Applicable Laws and Regulations Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance), section 516, Audit findings, establishes reporting requirements for audit findings. Title 2 CFR Part 200, Uniform Guidance, section 303, Internal controls, describes the requirements for auditees to maintain internal controls over federal programs and comply with federal program requirements. The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants defines significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in its Codification of Statements on Auditing Standards, section 935, Compliance Audits, paragraph 11. Title 29 CFR, Section 3.3 – Weekly statement with respect to payment of wages, and Section 3.4 – Submission of weekly statements and the preservation and inspection of weekly payroll records, establishes requirements for contractor or subcontractor submission of weekly certified payroll reports. Title 29 CFR, Section 5.5 – Contract provisions and related matters establishes the requirements for the contracting officer to insert in full in any contract in excess of $2,000 which is entered into for the actual construction, alteration and/or repair, including painting and decorating, of a public building or public work, or building or work financed in whole or in part with federal funds the clauses listed, which includes but is not limited to the minimum wages to be paid and payrolls and basic records to be maintained (submission of weekly certified payrolls).
2022-001 The District did not have adequate internal controls for ensuring compliance with federal wage rate requirements. Assistance Listing Number and Title: 84.425, COVID-19 – Education Stabilization Fund Federal Grantor Name: U.S. Department of Education Federal Award/Contract Number: N/A Pass-through Entity Name: Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction Pass-through Award/Contract Number: COVID-19, 84.425W-0459544 COVID-19, 84.425W-0459014 COVID-19, 84.425U-0140613 COVID-19, 84.425U-0140072 COVID-19, 84.425U-0140021 COVID-19, 84.425D-0120523 COVID-19, 84.425D-0138183 COVID-19, 84.425D-0137204 COVID-19, 84.425D-0120128 COVID-19, 84.425U-0712015 Known Questioned Cost Amount: $0 Prior Year Audit Finding: N/A Background The objectives of the Education Stabilization Fund (ESF) program are to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. In fiscal year 2022, the District spent $20,271,990 in federal funding under its ESF awards. This included $20,191,081 in the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER II) Fund subprogram (84.425D), $49,173 in the American Rescue Plan Elementary and School Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER/ESSER III) subprogram (84.425U), and $31,736 in the American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief – Homeless Children and Youth (ARP-HCY) subprogram (84.425W). Federal regulations require award recipients to establish and follow internal controls that ensure compliance with program requirements. These controls include understanding program requirements and monitoring the effectiveness of established controls. Under federal wage rate requirements, also known as the Davis-Bacon Act, contractors and subcontractors that work on projects financed with more than $2,000 of federal money must pay laborers and mechanics wage rates that the U.S. Department of Labor considers being similar to what local workers have been paid for similar projects. For construction contracts subject to these wage rate requirements, the District must include a provision that the contractors and subcontractors comply with those requirements and the Department of Labor’s regulations. This includes a requirement for the contractor and its subcontractor to submit to the District weekly, for each week in which any contract work is performed, certified payroll reports. These reports must include a copy of the payroll and a signed statement of compliance. Description of Condition During the 2021–22 school year, the District paid $3,073,462 from its ESSER II and ESSER III awards to one contractor. This contractor upgraded some of the District’s antiquated heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems to improve air quality and circulation to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Our audit found that the District did not have adequate internal controls for ensuring compliance with federal prevailing wage rate requirements. Specifically, the District did not collect and review weekly certified payroll reports from the contractor to confirm it paid laborers proper prevailing wages. We consider this internal control deficiency to be a material weakness that led to material noncompliance. Cause of Condition District staff were aware of state prevailing wage requirements. However, since this was the first construction project the District paid for with federal funds, staff were unaware of the federal requirement to obtain weekly certified payroll reports. Effect of Condition Without adequate internal controls that ensure it collects all weekly certified payroll reports, the District cannot demonstrate it complied with federal wage rate requirements. The District could be liable for paying any additional wages if the contractor and its subcontractors did not pay prevailing wage rates to laborers working on the contract. During the audit period, the District was required to collect certified payroll reports from one contractor. We found that the District did not obtain any of the weekly certified payroll reports. Recommendation We recommend the District develop internal controls that ensure compliance with federal prevailing wage rate requirements. This should include implementing an effective monitoring process to collect and review all weekly certified payroll reports in a timely manner from contractors and subcontractors. District’s Response The District stewards public resources carefully and takes pride in developing and maintaining strong internal controls. The District has already made adjustments in response to this finding to ensure compliance for Federally funded construction projects. Going forward, the District will also ensure staff are appropriately trained on these requirements. The context of this finding is that the District had established internal controls to check for compliance with state prevailing wage requirements. Until 2021-22, the District very rarely utilized Federal funds for public works contracts, and thus the unique and complex nature of these Federal resources and the requirements around their use were unanticipated. When made aware of this oversight during the audit, the District took steps to review certified payroll documents from the beginning of the project to the current period, and to verify that contractors were in compliance with Federal prevailing wage rules. The District respects and values the work of the State Auditor’s Office in conducting their annual audit. However, given that numerous districts across the state were provided with one-time federal ESSER dollars to mitigate the impacts of a global pandemic, and that Federal funds are rarely used by districts to support public works projects, all districts would have benefited from clearer guidance and caution by supporting state agencies around these additional federal reporting requirements. Auditor’s Remarks We appreciate the District’s commitment to resolving the issue. We will review the condition during our next audit. Applicable Laws and Regulations Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance), section 516, Audit findings, establishes reporting requirements for audit findings. Title 2 CFR Part 200, Uniform Guidance, section 303, Internal controls, describes the requirements for auditees to maintain internal controls over federal programs and comply with federal program requirements. The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants defines significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in its Codification of Statements on Auditing Standards, section 935, Compliance Audits, paragraph 11. Title 29 CFR, Section 3.3 – Weekly statement with respect to payment of wages, and Section 3.4 – Submission of weekly statements and the preservation and inspection of weekly payroll records, establishes requirements for contractor or subcontractor submission of weekly certified payroll reports. Title 29 CFR, Section 5.5 – Contract provisions and related matters establishes the requirements for the contracting officer to insert in full in any contract in excess of $2,000 which is entered into for the actual construction, alteration and/or repair, including painting and decorating, of a public building or public work, or building or work financed in whole or in part with federal funds the clauses listed, which includes but is not limited to the minimum wages to be paid and payrolls and basic records to be maintained (submission of weekly certified payrolls).
2022-001 The District did not have adequate internal controls for ensuring compliance with federal wage rate requirements. Assistance Listing Number and Title: 84.425, COVID-19 – Education Stabilization Fund Federal Grantor Name: U.S. Department of Education Federal Award/Contract Number: N/A Pass-through Entity Name: Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction Pass-through Award/Contract Number: COVID-19, 84.425W-0459544 COVID-19, 84.425W-0459014 COVID-19, 84.425U-0140613 COVID-19, 84.425U-0140072 COVID-19, 84.425U-0140021 COVID-19, 84.425D-0120523 COVID-19, 84.425D-0138183 COVID-19, 84.425D-0137204 COVID-19, 84.425D-0120128 COVID-19, 84.425U-0712015 Known Questioned Cost Amount: $0 Prior Year Audit Finding: N/A Background The objectives of the Education Stabilization Fund (ESF) program are to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. In fiscal year 2022, the District spent $20,271,990 in federal funding under its ESF awards. This included $20,191,081 in the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER II) Fund subprogram (84.425D), $49,173 in the American Rescue Plan Elementary and School Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER/ESSER III) subprogram (84.425U), and $31,736 in the American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief – Homeless Children and Youth (ARP-HCY) subprogram (84.425W). Federal regulations require award recipients to establish and follow internal controls that ensure compliance with program requirements. These controls include understanding program requirements and monitoring the effectiveness of established controls. Under federal wage rate requirements, also known as the Davis-Bacon Act, contractors and subcontractors that work on projects financed with more than $2,000 of federal money must pay laborers and mechanics wage rates that the U.S. Department of Labor considers being similar to what local workers have been paid for similar projects. For construction contracts subject to these wage rate requirements, the District must include a provision that the contractors and subcontractors comply with those requirements and the Department of Labor’s regulations. This includes a requirement for the contractor and its subcontractor to submit to the District weekly, for each week in which any contract work is performed, certified payroll reports. These reports must include a copy of the payroll and a signed statement of compliance. Description of Condition During the 2021–22 school year, the District paid $3,073,462 from its ESSER II and ESSER III awards to one contractor. This contractor upgraded some of the District’s antiquated heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems to improve air quality and circulation to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Our audit found that the District did not have adequate internal controls for ensuring compliance with federal prevailing wage rate requirements. Specifically, the District did not collect and review weekly certified payroll reports from the contractor to confirm it paid laborers proper prevailing wages. We consider this internal control deficiency to be a material weakness that led to material noncompliance. Cause of Condition District staff were aware of state prevailing wage requirements. However, since this was the first construction project the District paid for with federal funds, staff were unaware of the federal requirement to obtain weekly certified payroll reports. Effect of Condition Without adequate internal controls that ensure it collects all weekly certified payroll reports, the District cannot demonstrate it complied with federal wage rate requirements. The District could be liable for paying any additional wages if the contractor and its subcontractors did not pay prevailing wage rates to laborers working on the contract. During the audit period, the District was required to collect certified payroll reports from one contractor. We found that the District did not obtain any of the weekly certified payroll reports. Recommendation We recommend the District develop internal controls that ensure compliance with federal prevailing wage rate requirements. This should include implementing an effective monitoring process to collect and review all weekly certified payroll reports in a timely manner from contractors and subcontractors. District’s Response The District stewards public resources carefully and takes pride in developing and maintaining strong internal controls. The District has already made adjustments in response to this finding to ensure compliance for Federally funded construction projects. Going forward, the District will also ensure staff are appropriately trained on these requirements. The context of this finding is that the District had established internal controls to check for compliance with state prevailing wage requirements. Until 2021-22, the District very rarely utilized Federal funds for public works contracts, and thus the unique and complex nature of these Federal resources and the requirements around their use were unanticipated. When made aware of this oversight during the audit, the District took steps to review certified payroll documents from the beginning of the project to the current period, and to verify that contractors were in compliance with Federal prevailing wage rules. The District respects and values the work of the State Auditor’s Office in conducting their annual audit. However, given that numerous districts across the state were provided with one-time federal ESSER dollars to mitigate the impacts of a global pandemic, and that Federal funds are rarely used by districts to support public works projects, all districts would have benefited from clearer guidance and caution by supporting state agencies around these additional federal reporting requirements. Auditor’s Remarks We appreciate the District’s commitment to resolving the issue. We will review the condition during our next audit. Applicable Laws and Regulations Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance), section 516, Audit findings, establishes reporting requirements for audit findings. Title 2 CFR Part 200, Uniform Guidance, section 303, Internal controls, describes the requirements for auditees to maintain internal controls over federal programs and comply with federal program requirements. The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants defines significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in its Codification of Statements on Auditing Standards, section 935, Compliance Audits, paragraph 11. Title 29 CFR, Section 3.3 – Weekly statement with respect to payment of wages, and Section 3.4 – Submission of weekly statements and the preservation and inspection of weekly payroll records, establishes requirements for contractor or subcontractor submission of weekly certified payroll reports. Title 29 CFR, Section 5.5 – Contract provisions and related matters establishes the requirements for the contracting officer to insert in full in any contract in excess of $2,000 which is entered into for the actual construction, alteration and/or repair, including painting and decorating, of a public building or public work, or building or work financed in whole or in part with federal funds the clauses listed, which includes but is not limited to the minimum wages to be paid and payrolls and basic records to be maintained (submission of weekly certified payrolls).
2022-001 The District did not have adequate internal controls for ensuring compliance with federal wage rate requirements. Assistance Listing Number and Title: 84.425, COVID-19 – Education Stabilization Fund Federal Grantor Name: U.S. Department of Education Federal Award/Contract Number: N/A Pass-through Entity Name: Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction Pass-through Award/Contract Number: COVID-19, 84.425W-0459544 COVID-19, 84.425W-0459014 COVID-19, 84.425U-0140613 COVID-19, 84.425U-0140072 COVID-19, 84.425U-0140021 COVID-19, 84.425D-0120523 COVID-19, 84.425D-0138183 COVID-19, 84.425D-0137204 COVID-19, 84.425D-0120128 COVID-19, 84.425U-0712015 Known Questioned Cost Amount: $0 Prior Year Audit Finding: N/A Background The objectives of the Education Stabilization Fund (ESF) program are to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. In fiscal year 2022, the District spent $20,271,990 in federal funding under its ESF awards. This included $20,191,081 in the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER II) Fund subprogram (84.425D), $49,173 in the American Rescue Plan Elementary and School Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER/ESSER III) subprogram (84.425U), and $31,736 in the American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief – Homeless Children and Youth (ARP-HCY) subprogram (84.425W). Federal regulations require award recipients to establish and follow internal controls that ensure compliance with program requirements. These controls include understanding program requirements and monitoring the effectiveness of established controls. Under federal wage rate requirements, also known as the Davis-Bacon Act, contractors and subcontractors that work on projects financed with more than $2,000 of federal money must pay laborers and mechanics wage rates that the U.S. Department of Labor considers being similar to what local workers have been paid for similar projects. For construction contracts subject to these wage rate requirements, the District must include a provision that the contractors and subcontractors comply with those requirements and the Department of Labor’s regulations. This includes a requirement for the contractor and its subcontractor to submit to the District weekly, for each week in which any contract work is performed, certified payroll reports. These reports must include a copy of the payroll and a signed statement of compliance. Description of Condition During the 2021–22 school year, the District paid $3,073,462 from its ESSER II and ESSER III awards to one contractor. This contractor upgraded some of the District’s antiquated heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems to improve air quality and circulation to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Our audit found that the District did not have adequate internal controls for ensuring compliance with federal prevailing wage rate requirements. Specifically, the District did not collect and review weekly certified payroll reports from the contractor to confirm it paid laborers proper prevailing wages. We consider this internal control deficiency to be a material weakness that led to material noncompliance. Cause of Condition District staff were aware of state prevailing wage requirements. However, since this was the first construction project the District paid for with federal funds, staff were unaware of the federal requirement to obtain weekly certified payroll reports. Effect of Condition Without adequate internal controls that ensure it collects all weekly certified payroll reports, the District cannot demonstrate it complied with federal wage rate requirements. The District could be liable for paying any additional wages if the contractor and its subcontractors did not pay prevailing wage rates to laborers working on the contract. During the audit period, the District was required to collect certified payroll reports from one contractor. We found that the District did not obtain any of the weekly certified payroll reports. Recommendation We recommend the District develop internal controls that ensure compliance with federal prevailing wage rate requirements. This should include implementing an effective monitoring process to collect and review all weekly certified payroll reports in a timely manner from contractors and subcontractors. District’s Response The District stewards public resources carefully and takes pride in developing and maintaining strong internal controls. The District has already made adjustments in response to this finding to ensure compliance for Federally funded construction projects. Going forward, the District will also ensure staff are appropriately trained on these requirements. The context of this finding is that the District had established internal controls to check for compliance with state prevailing wage requirements. Until 2021-22, the District very rarely utilized Federal funds for public works contracts, and thus the unique and complex nature of these Federal resources and the requirements around their use were unanticipated. When made aware of this oversight during the audit, the District took steps to review certified payroll documents from the beginning of the project to the current period, and to verify that contractors were in compliance with Federal prevailing wage rules. The District respects and values the work of the State Auditor’s Office in conducting their annual audit. However, given that numerous districts across the state were provided with one-time federal ESSER dollars to mitigate the impacts of a global pandemic, and that Federal funds are rarely used by districts to support public works projects, all districts would have benefited from clearer guidance and caution by supporting state agencies around these additional federal reporting requirements. Auditor’s Remarks We appreciate the District’s commitment to resolving the issue. We will review the condition during our next audit. Applicable Laws and Regulations Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance), section 516, Audit findings, establishes reporting requirements for audit findings. Title 2 CFR Part 200, Uniform Guidance, section 303, Internal controls, describes the requirements for auditees to maintain internal controls over federal programs and comply with federal program requirements. The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants defines significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in its Codification of Statements on Auditing Standards, section 935, Compliance Audits, paragraph 11. Title 29 CFR, Section 3.3 – Weekly statement with respect to payment of wages, and Section 3.4 – Submission of weekly statements and the preservation and inspection of weekly payroll records, establishes requirements for contractor or subcontractor submission of weekly certified payroll reports. Title 29 CFR, Section 5.5 – Contract provisions and related matters establishes the requirements for the contracting officer to insert in full in any contract in excess of $2,000 which is entered into for the actual construction, alteration and/or repair, including painting and decorating, of a public building or public work, or building or work financed in whole or in part with federal funds the clauses listed, which includes but is not limited to the minimum wages to be paid and payrolls and basic records to be maintained (submission of weekly certified payrolls).
2022-001 The District did not have adequate internal controls for ensuring compliance with federal wage rate requirements. Assistance Listing Number and Title: 84.425, COVID-19 – Education Stabilization Fund Federal Grantor Name: U.S. Department of Education Federal Award/Contract Number: N/A Pass-through Entity Name: Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction Pass-through Award/Contract Number: COVID-19, 84.425W-0459544 COVID-19, 84.425W-0459014 COVID-19, 84.425U-0140613 COVID-19, 84.425U-0140072 COVID-19, 84.425U-0140021 COVID-19, 84.425D-0120523 COVID-19, 84.425D-0138183 COVID-19, 84.425D-0137204 COVID-19, 84.425D-0120128 COVID-19, 84.425U-0712015 Known Questioned Cost Amount: $0 Prior Year Audit Finding: N/A Background The objectives of the Education Stabilization Fund (ESF) program are to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. In fiscal year 2022, the District spent $20,271,990 in federal funding under its ESF awards. This included $20,191,081 in the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER II) Fund subprogram (84.425D), $49,173 in the American Rescue Plan Elementary and School Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER/ESSER III) subprogram (84.425U), and $31,736 in the American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief – Homeless Children and Youth (ARP-HCY) subprogram (84.425W). Federal regulations require award recipients to establish and follow internal controls that ensure compliance with program requirements. These controls include understanding program requirements and monitoring the effectiveness of established controls. Under federal wage rate requirements, also known as the Davis-Bacon Act, contractors and subcontractors that work on projects financed with more than $2,000 of federal money must pay laborers and mechanics wage rates that the U.S. Department of Labor considers being similar to what local workers have been paid for similar projects. For construction contracts subject to these wage rate requirements, the District must include a provision that the contractors and subcontractors comply with those requirements and the Department of Labor’s regulations. This includes a requirement for the contractor and its subcontractor to submit to the District weekly, for each week in which any contract work is performed, certified payroll reports. These reports must include a copy of the payroll and a signed statement of compliance. Description of Condition During the 2021–22 school year, the District paid $3,073,462 from its ESSER II and ESSER III awards to one contractor. This contractor upgraded some of the District’s antiquated heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems to improve air quality and circulation to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Our audit found that the District did not have adequate internal controls for ensuring compliance with federal prevailing wage rate requirements. Specifically, the District did not collect and review weekly certified payroll reports from the contractor to confirm it paid laborers proper prevailing wages. We consider this internal control deficiency to be a material weakness that led to material noncompliance. Cause of Condition District staff were aware of state prevailing wage requirements. However, since this was the first construction project the District paid for with federal funds, staff were unaware of the federal requirement to obtain weekly certified payroll reports. Effect of Condition Without adequate internal controls that ensure it collects all weekly certified payroll reports, the District cannot demonstrate it complied with federal wage rate requirements. The District could be liable for paying any additional wages if the contractor and its subcontractors did not pay prevailing wage rates to laborers working on the contract. During the audit period, the District was required to collect certified payroll reports from one contractor. We found that the District did not obtain any of the weekly certified payroll reports. Recommendation We recommend the District develop internal controls that ensure compliance with federal prevailing wage rate requirements. This should include implementing an effective monitoring process to collect and review all weekly certified payroll reports in a timely manner from contractors and subcontractors. District’s Response The District stewards public resources carefully and takes pride in developing and maintaining strong internal controls. The District has already made adjustments in response to this finding to ensure compliance for Federally funded construction projects. Going forward, the District will also ensure staff are appropriately trained on these requirements. The context of this finding is that the District had established internal controls to check for compliance with state prevailing wage requirements. Until 2021-22, the District very rarely utilized Federal funds for public works contracts, and thus the unique and complex nature of these Federal resources and the requirements around their use were unanticipated. When made aware of this oversight during the audit, the District took steps to review certified payroll documents from the beginning of the project to the current period, and to verify that contractors were in compliance with Federal prevailing wage rules. The District respects and values the work of the State Auditor’s Office in conducting their annual audit. However, given that numerous districts across the state were provided with one-time federal ESSER dollars to mitigate the impacts of a global pandemic, and that Federal funds are rarely used by districts to support public works projects, all districts would have benefited from clearer guidance and caution by supporting state agencies around these additional federal reporting requirements. Auditor’s Remarks We appreciate the District’s commitment to resolving the issue. We will review the condition during our next audit. Applicable Laws and Regulations Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance), section 516, Audit findings, establishes reporting requirements for audit findings. Title 2 CFR Part 200, Uniform Guidance, section 303, Internal controls, describes the requirements for auditees to maintain internal controls over federal programs and comply with federal program requirements. The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants defines significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in its Codification of Statements on Auditing Standards, section 935, Compliance Audits, paragraph 11. Title 29 CFR, Section 3.3 – Weekly statement with respect to payment of wages, and Section 3.4 – Submission of weekly statements and the preservation and inspection of weekly payroll records, establishes requirements for contractor or subcontractor submission of weekly certified payroll reports. Title 29 CFR, Section 5.5 – Contract provisions and related matters establishes the requirements for the contracting officer to insert in full in any contract in excess of $2,000 which is entered into for the actual construction, alteration and/or repair, including painting and decorating, of a public building or public work, or building or work financed in whole or in part with federal funds the clauses listed, which includes but is not limited to the minimum wages to be paid and payrolls and basic records to be maintained (submission of weekly certified payrolls).
2022-001 The District did not have adequate internal controls for ensuring compliance with federal wage rate requirements. Assistance Listing Number and Title: 84.425, COVID-19 – Education Stabilization Fund Federal Grantor Name: U.S. Department of Education Federal Award/Contract Number: N/A Pass-through Entity Name: Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction Pass-through Award/Contract Number: COVID-19, 84.425W-0459544 COVID-19, 84.425W-0459014 COVID-19, 84.425U-0140613 COVID-19, 84.425U-0140072 COVID-19, 84.425U-0140021 COVID-19, 84.425D-0120523 COVID-19, 84.425D-0138183 COVID-19, 84.425D-0137204 COVID-19, 84.425D-0120128 COVID-19, 84.425U-0712015 Known Questioned Cost Amount: $0 Prior Year Audit Finding: N/A Background The objectives of the Education Stabilization Fund (ESF) program are to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. In fiscal year 2022, the District spent $20,271,990 in federal funding under its ESF awards. This included $20,191,081 in the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER II) Fund subprogram (84.425D), $49,173 in the American Rescue Plan Elementary and School Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER/ESSER III) subprogram (84.425U), and $31,736 in the American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief – Homeless Children and Youth (ARP-HCY) subprogram (84.425W). Federal regulations require award recipients to establish and follow internal controls that ensure compliance with program requirements. These controls include understanding program requirements and monitoring the effectiveness of established controls. Under federal wage rate requirements, also known as the Davis-Bacon Act, contractors and subcontractors that work on projects financed with more than $2,000 of federal money must pay laborers and mechanics wage rates that the U.S. Department of Labor considers being similar to what local workers have been paid for similar projects. For construction contracts subject to these wage rate requirements, the District must include a provision that the contractors and subcontractors comply with those requirements and the Department of Labor’s regulations. This includes a requirement for the contractor and its subcontractor to submit to the District weekly, for each week in which any contract work is performed, certified payroll reports. These reports must include a copy of the payroll and a signed statement of compliance. Description of Condition During the 2021–22 school year, the District paid $3,073,462 from its ESSER II and ESSER III awards to one contractor. This contractor upgraded some of the District’s antiquated heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems to improve air quality and circulation to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Our audit found that the District did not have adequate internal controls for ensuring compliance with federal prevailing wage rate requirements. Specifically, the District did not collect and review weekly certified payroll reports from the contractor to confirm it paid laborers proper prevailing wages. We consider this internal control deficiency to be a material weakness that led to material noncompliance. Cause of Condition District staff were aware of state prevailing wage requirements. However, since this was the first construction project the District paid for with federal funds, staff were unaware of the federal requirement to obtain weekly certified payroll reports. Effect of Condition Without adequate internal controls that ensure it collects all weekly certified payroll reports, the District cannot demonstrate it complied with federal wage rate requirements. The District could be liable for paying any additional wages if the contractor and its subcontractors did not pay prevailing wage rates to laborers working on the contract. During the audit period, the District was required to collect certified payroll reports from one contractor. We found that the District did not obtain any of the weekly certified payroll reports. Recommendation We recommend the District develop internal controls that ensure compliance with federal prevailing wage rate requirements. This should include implementing an effective monitoring process to collect and review all weekly certified payroll reports in a timely manner from contractors and subcontractors. District’s Response The District stewards public resources carefully and takes pride in developing and maintaining strong internal controls. The District has already made adjustments in response to this finding to ensure compliance for Federally funded construction projects. Going forward, the District will also ensure staff are appropriately trained on these requirements. The context of this finding is that the District had established internal controls to check for compliance with state prevailing wage requirements. Until 2021-22, the District very rarely utilized Federal funds for public works contracts, and thus the unique and complex nature of these Federal resources and the requirements around their use were unanticipated. When made aware of this oversight during the audit, the District took steps to review certified payroll documents from the beginning of the project to the current period, and to verify that contractors were in compliance with Federal prevailing wage rules. The District respects and values the work of the State Auditor’s Office in conducting their annual audit. However, given that numerous districts across the state were provided with one-time federal ESSER dollars to mitigate the impacts of a global pandemic, and that Federal funds are rarely used by districts to support public works projects, all districts would have benefited from clearer guidance and caution by supporting state agencies around these additional federal reporting requirements. Auditor’s Remarks We appreciate the District’s commitment to resolving the issue. We will review the condition during our next audit. Applicable Laws and Regulations Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance), section 516, Audit findings, establishes reporting requirements for audit findings. Title 2 CFR Part 200, Uniform Guidance, section 303, Internal controls, describes the requirements for auditees to maintain internal controls over federal programs and comply with federal program requirements. The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants defines significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in its Codification of Statements on Auditing Standards, section 935, Compliance Audits, paragraph 11. Title 29 CFR, Section 3.3 – Weekly statement with respect to payment of wages, and Section 3.4 – Submission of weekly statements and the preservation and inspection of weekly payroll records, establishes requirements for contractor or subcontractor submission of weekly certified payroll reports. Title 29 CFR, Section 5.5 – Contract provisions and related matters establishes the requirements for the contracting officer to insert in full in any contract in excess of $2,000 which is entered into for the actual construction, alteration and/or repair, including painting and decorating, of a public building or public work, or building or work financed in whole or in part with federal funds the clauses listed, which includes but is not limited to the minimum wages to be paid and payrolls and basic records to be maintained (submission of weekly certified payrolls).
2022-001 The District did not have adequate internal controls for ensuring compliance with federal wage rate requirements. Assistance Listing Number and Title: 84.425, COVID-19 – Education Stabilization Fund Federal Grantor Name: U.S. Department of Education Federal Award/Contract Number: N/A Pass-through Entity Name: Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction Pass-through Award/Contract Number: COVID-19, 84.425W-0459544 COVID-19, 84.425W-0459014 COVID-19, 84.425U-0140613 COVID-19, 84.425U-0140072 COVID-19, 84.425U-0140021 COVID-19, 84.425D-0120523 COVID-19, 84.425D-0138183 COVID-19, 84.425D-0137204 COVID-19, 84.425D-0120128 COVID-19, 84.425U-0712015 Known Questioned Cost Amount: $0 Prior Year Audit Finding: N/A Background The objectives of the Education Stabilization Fund (ESF) program are to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. In fiscal year 2022, the District spent $20,271,990 in federal funding under its ESF awards. This included $20,191,081 in the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER II) Fund subprogram (84.425D), $49,173 in the American Rescue Plan Elementary and School Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER/ESSER III) subprogram (84.425U), and $31,736 in the American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief – Homeless Children and Youth (ARP-HCY) subprogram (84.425W). Federal regulations require award recipients to establish and follow internal controls that ensure compliance with program requirements. These controls include understanding program requirements and monitoring the effectiveness of established controls. Under federal wage rate requirements, also known as the Davis-Bacon Act, contractors and subcontractors that work on projects financed with more than $2,000 of federal money must pay laborers and mechanics wage rates that the U.S. Department of Labor considers being similar to what local workers have been paid for similar projects. For construction contracts subject to these wage rate requirements, the District must include a provision that the contractors and subcontractors comply with those requirements and the Department of Labor’s regulations. This includes a requirement for the contractor and its subcontractor to submit to the District weekly, for each week in which any contract work is performed, certified payroll reports. These reports must include a copy of the payroll and a signed statement of compliance. Description of Condition During the 2021–22 school year, the District paid $3,073,462 from its ESSER II and ESSER III awards to one contractor. This contractor upgraded some of the District’s antiquated heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems to improve air quality and circulation to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Our audit found that the District did not have adequate internal controls for ensuring compliance with federal prevailing wage rate requirements. Specifically, the District did not collect and review weekly certified payroll reports from the contractor to confirm it paid laborers proper prevailing wages. We consider this internal control deficiency to be a material weakness that led to material noncompliance. Cause of Condition District staff were aware of state prevailing wage requirements. However, since this was the first construction project the District paid for with federal funds, staff were unaware of the federal requirement to obtain weekly certified payroll reports. Effect of Condition Without adequate internal controls that ensure it collects all weekly certified payroll reports, the District cannot demonstrate it complied with federal wage rate requirements. The District could be liable for paying any additional wages if the contractor and its subcontractors did not pay prevailing wage rates to laborers working on the contract. During the audit period, the District was required to collect certified payroll reports from one contractor. We found that the District did not obtain any of the weekly certified payroll reports. Recommendation We recommend the District develop internal controls that ensure compliance with federal prevailing wage rate requirements. This should include implementing an effective monitoring process to collect and review all weekly certified payroll reports in a timely manner from contractors and subcontractors. District’s Response The District stewards public resources carefully and takes pride in developing and maintaining strong internal controls. The District has already made adjustments in response to this finding to ensure compliance for Federally funded construction projects. Going forward, the District will also ensure staff are appropriately trained on these requirements. The context of this finding is that the District had established internal controls to check for compliance with state prevailing wage requirements. Until 2021-22, the District very rarely utilized Federal funds for public works contracts, and thus the unique and complex nature of these Federal resources and the requirements around their use were unanticipated. When made aware of this oversight during the audit, the District took steps to review certified payroll documents from the beginning of the project to the current period, and to verify that contractors were in compliance with Federal prevailing wage rules. The District respects and values the work of the State Auditor’s Office in conducting their annual audit. However, given that numerous districts across the state were provided with one-time federal ESSER dollars to mitigate the impacts of a global pandemic, and that Federal funds are rarely used by districts to support public works projects, all districts would have benefited from clearer guidance and caution by supporting state agencies around these additional federal reporting requirements. Auditor’s Remarks We appreciate the District’s commitment to resolving the issue. We will review the condition during our next audit. Applicable Laws and Regulations Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance), section 516, Audit findings, establishes reporting requirements for audit findings. Title 2 CFR Part 200, Uniform Guidance, section 303, Internal controls, describes the requirements for auditees to maintain internal controls over federal programs and comply with federal program requirements. The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants defines significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in its Codification of Statements on Auditing Standards, section 935, Compliance Audits, paragraph 11. Title 29 CFR, Section 3.3 – Weekly statement with respect to payment of wages, and Section 3.4 – Submission of weekly statements and the preservation and inspection of weekly payroll records, establishes requirements for contractor or subcontractor submission of weekly certified payroll reports. Title 29 CFR, Section 5.5 – Contract provisions and related matters establishes the requirements for the contracting officer to insert in full in any contract in excess of $2,000 which is entered into for the actual construction, alteration and/or repair, including painting and decorating, of a public building or public work, or building or work financed in whole or in part with federal funds the clauses listed, which includes but is not limited to the minimum wages to be paid and payrolls and basic records to be maintained (submission of weekly certified payrolls).
2022-001 The District did not have adequate internal controls for ensuring compliance with federal wage rate requirements. Assistance Listing Number and Title: 84.425, COVID-19 – Education Stabilization Fund Federal Grantor Name: U.S. Department of Education Federal Award/Contract Number: N/A Pass-through Entity Name: Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction Pass-through Award/Contract Number: COVID-19, 84.425W-0459544 COVID-19, 84.425W-0459014 COVID-19, 84.425U-0140613 COVID-19, 84.425U-0140072 COVID-19, 84.425U-0140021 COVID-19, 84.425D-0120523 COVID-19, 84.425D-0138183 COVID-19, 84.425D-0137204 COVID-19, 84.425D-0120128 COVID-19, 84.425U-0712015 Known Questioned Cost Amount: $0 Prior Year Audit Finding: N/A Background The objectives of the Education Stabilization Fund (ESF) program are to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. In fiscal year 2022, the District spent $20,271,990 in federal funding under its ESF awards. This included $20,191,081 in the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER II) Fund subprogram (84.425D), $49,173 in the American Rescue Plan Elementary and School Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER/ESSER III) subprogram (84.425U), and $31,736 in the American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief – Homeless Children and Youth (ARP-HCY) subprogram (84.425W). Federal regulations require award recipients to establish and follow internal controls that ensure compliance with program requirements. These controls include understanding program requirements and monitoring the effectiveness of established controls. Under federal wage rate requirements, also known as the Davis-Bacon Act, contractors and subcontractors that work on projects financed with more than $2,000 of federal money must pay laborers and mechanics wage rates that the U.S. Department of Labor considers being similar to what local workers have been paid for similar projects. For construction contracts subject to these wage rate requirements, the District must include a provision that the contractors and subcontractors comply with those requirements and the Department of Labor’s regulations. This includes a requirement for the contractor and its subcontractor to submit to the District weekly, for each week in which any contract work is performed, certified payroll reports. These reports must include a copy of the payroll and a signed statement of compliance. Description of Condition During the 2021–22 school year, the District paid $3,073,462 from its ESSER II and ESSER III awards to one contractor. This contractor upgraded some of the District’s antiquated heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems to improve air quality and circulation to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Our audit found that the District did not have adequate internal controls for ensuring compliance with federal prevailing wage rate requirements. Specifically, the District did not collect and review weekly certified payroll reports from the contractor to confirm it paid laborers proper prevailing wages. We consider this internal control deficiency to be a material weakness that led to material noncompliance. Cause of Condition District staff were aware of state prevailing wage requirements. However, since this was the first construction project the District paid for with federal funds, staff were unaware of the federal requirement to obtain weekly certified payroll reports. Effect of Condition Without adequate internal controls that ensure it collects all weekly certified payroll reports, the District cannot demonstrate it complied with federal wage rate requirements. The District could be liable for paying any additional wages if the contractor and its subcontractors did not pay prevailing wage rates to laborers working on the contract. During the audit period, the District was required to collect certified payroll reports from one contractor. We found that the District did not obtain any of the weekly certified payroll reports. Recommendation We recommend the District develop internal controls that ensure compliance with federal prevailing wage rate requirements. This should include implementing an effective monitoring process to collect and review all weekly certified payroll reports in a timely manner from contractors and subcontractors. District’s Response The District stewards public resources carefully and takes pride in developing and maintaining strong internal controls. The District has already made adjustments in response to this finding to ensure compliance for Federally funded construction projects. Going forward, the District will also ensure staff are appropriately trained on these requirements. The context of this finding is that the District had established internal controls to check for compliance with state prevailing wage requirements. Until 2021-22, the District very rarely utilized Federal funds for public works contracts, and thus the unique and complex nature of these Federal resources and the requirements around their use were unanticipated. When made aware of this oversight during the audit, the District took steps to review certified payroll documents from the beginning of the project to the current period, and to verify that contractors were in compliance with Federal prevailing wage rules. The District respects and values the work of the State Auditor’s Office in conducting their annual audit. However, given that numerous districts across the state were provided with one-time federal ESSER dollars to mitigate the impacts of a global pandemic, and that Federal funds are rarely used by districts to support public works projects, all districts would have benefited from clearer guidance and caution by supporting state agencies around these additional federal reporting requirements. Auditor’s Remarks We appreciate the District’s commitment to resolving the issue. We will review the condition during our next audit. Applicable Laws and Regulations Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance), section 516, Audit findings, establishes reporting requirements for audit findings. Title 2 CFR Part 200, Uniform Guidance, section 303, Internal controls, describes the requirements for auditees to maintain internal controls over federal programs and comply with federal program requirements. The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants defines significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in its Codification of Statements on Auditing Standards, section 935, Compliance Audits, paragraph 11. Title 29 CFR, Section 3.3 – Weekly statement with respect to payment of wages, and Section 3.4 – Submission of weekly statements and the preservation and inspection of weekly payroll records, establishes requirements for contractor or subcontractor submission of weekly certified payroll reports. Title 29 CFR, Section 5.5 – Contract provisions and related matters establishes the requirements for the contracting officer to insert in full in any contract in excess of $2,000 which is entered into for the actual construction, alteration and/or repair, including painting and decorating, of a public building or public work, or building or work financed in whole or in part with federal funds the clauses listed, which includes but is not limited to the minimum wages to be paid and payrolls and basic records to be maintained (submission of weekly certified payrolls).
2022-001 The District did not have adequate internal controls for ensuring compliance with federal wage rate requirements. Assistance Listing Number and Title: 84.425, COVID-19 – Education Stabilization Fund Federal Grantor Name: U.S. Department of Education Federal Award/Contract Number: N/A Pass-through Entity Name: Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction Pass-through Award/Contract Number: COVID-19, 84.425W-0459544 COVID-19, 84.425W-0459014 COVID-19, 84.425U-0140613 COVID-19, 84.425U-0140072 COVID-19, 84.425U-0140021 COVID-19, 84.425D-0120523 COVID-19, 84.425D-0138183 COVID-19, 84.425D-0137204 COVID-19, 84.425D-0120128 COVID-19, 84.425U-0712015 Known Questioned Cost Amount: $0 Prior Year Audit Finding: N/A Background The objectives of the Education Stabilization Fund (ESF) program are to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. In fiscal year 2022, the District spent $20,271,990 in federal funding under its ESF awards. This included $20,191,081 in the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER II) Fund subprogram (84.425D), $49,173 in the American Rescue Plan Elementary and School Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER/ESSER III) subprogram (84.425U), and $31,736 in the American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief – Homeless Children and Youth (ARP-HCY) subprogram (84.425W). Federal regulations require award recipients to establish and follow internal controls that ensure compliance with program requirements. These controls include understanding program requirements and monitoring the effectiveness of established controls. Under federal wage rate requirements, also known as the Davis-Bacon Act, contractors and subcontractors that work on projects financed with more than $2,000 of federal money must pay laborers and mechanics wage rates that the U.S. Department of Labor considers being similar to what local workers have been paid for similar projects. For construction contracts subject to these wage rate requirements, the District must include a provision that the contractors and subcontractors comply with those requirements and the Department of Labor’s regulations. This includes a requirement for the contractor and its subcontractor to submit to the District weekly, for each week in which any contract work is performed, certified payroll reports. These reports must include a copy of the payroll and a signed statement of compliance. Description of Condition During the 2021–22 school year, the District paid $3,073,462 from its ESSER II and ESSER III awards to one contractor. This contractor upgraded some of the District’s antiquated heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems to improve air quality and circulation to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Our audit found that the District did not have adequate internal controls for ensuring compliance with federal prevailing wage rate requirements. Specifically, the District did not collect and review weekly certified payroll reports from the contractor to confirm it paid laborers proper prevailing wages. We consider this internal control deficiency to be a material weakness that led to material noncompliance. Cause of Condition District staff were aware of state prevailing wage requirements. However, since this was the first construction project the District paid for with federal funds, staff were unaware of the federal requirement to obtain weekly certified payroll reports. Effect of Condition Without adequate internal controls that ensure it collects all weekly certified payroll reports, the District cannot demonstrate it complied with federal wage rate requirements. The District could be liable for paying any additional wages if the contractor and its subcontractors did not pay prevailing wage rates to laborers working on the contract. During the audit period, the District was required to collect certified payroll reports from one contractor. We found that the District did not obtain any of the weekly certified payroll reports. Recommendation We recommend the District develop internal controls that ensure compliance with federal prevailing wage rate requirements. This should include implementing an effective monitoring process to collect and review all weekly certified payroll reports in a timely manner from contractors and subcontractors. District’s Response The District stewards public resources carefully and takes pride in developing and maintaining strong internal controls. The District has already made adjustments in response to this finding to ensure compliance for Federally funded construction projects. Going forward, the District will also ensure staff are appropriately trained on these requirements. The context of this finding is that the District had established internal controls to check for compliance with state prevailing wage requirements. Until 2021-22, the District very rarely utilized Federal funds for public works contracts, and thus the unique and complex nature of these Federal resources and the requirements around their use were unanticipated. When made aware of this oversight during the audit, the District took steps to review certified payroll documents from the beginning of the project to the current period, and to verify that contractors were in compliance with Federal prevailing wage rules. The District respects and values the work of the State Auditor’s Office in conducting their annual audit. However, given that numerous districts across the state were provided with one-time federal ESSER dollars to mitigate the impacts of a global pandemic, and that Federal funds are rarely used by districts to support public works projects, all districts would have benefited from clearer guidance and caution by supporting state agencies around these additional federal reporting requirements. Auditor’s Remarks We appreciate the District’s commitment to resolving the issue. We will review the condition during our next audit. Applicable Laws and Regulations Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance), section 516, Audit findings, establishes reporting requirements for audit findings. Title 2 CFR Part 200, Uniform Guidance, section 303, Internal controls, describes the requirements for auditees to maintain internal controls over federal programs and comply with federal program requirements. The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants defines significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in its Codification of Statements on Auditing Standards, section 935, Compliance Audits, paragraph 11. Title 29 CFR, Section 3.3 – Weekly statement with respect to payment of wages, and Section 3.4 – Submission of weekly statements and the preservation and inspection of weekly payroll records, establishes requirements for contractor or subcontractor submission of weekly certified payroll reports. Title 29 CFR, Section 5.5 – Contract provisions and related matters establishes the requirements for the contracting officer to insert in full in any contract in excess of $2,000 which is entered into for the actual construction, alteration and/or repair, including painting and decorating, of a public building or public work, or building or work financed in whole or in part with federal funds the clauses listed, which includes but is not limited to the minimum wages to be paid and payrolls and basic records to be maintained (submission of weekly certified payrolls).
2022-001 The District did not have adequate internal controls for ensuring compliance with federal wage rate requirements. Assistance Listing Number and Title: 84.425, COVID-19 – Education Stabilization Fund Federal Grantor Name: U.S. Department of Education Federal Award/Contract Number: N/A Pass-through Entity Name: Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction Pass-through Award/Contract Number: COVID-19, 84.425W-0459544 COVID-19, 84.425W-0459014 COVID-19, 84.425U-0140613 COVID-19, 84.425U-0140072 COVID-19, 84.425U-0140021 COVID-19, 84.425D-0120523 COVID-19, 84.425D-0138183 COVID-19, 84.425D-0137204 COVID-19, 84.425D-0120128 COVID-19, 84.425U-0712015 Known Questioned Cost Amount: $0 Prior Year Audit Finding: N/A Background The objectives of the Education Stabilization Fund (ESF) program are to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. In fiscal year 2022, the District spent $20,271,990 in federal funding under its ESF awards. This included $20,191,081 in the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER II) Fund subprogram (84.425D), $49,173 in the American Rescue Plan Elementary and School Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER/ESSER III) subprogram (84.425U), and $31,736 in the American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief – Homeless Children and Youth (ARP-HCY) subprogram (84.425W). Federal regulations require award recipients to establish and follow internal controls that ensure compliance with program requirements. These controls include understanding program requirements and monitoring the effectiveness of established controls. Under federal wage rate requirements, also known as the Davis-Bacon Act, contractors and subcontractors that work on projects financed with more than $2,000 of federal money must pay laborers and mechanics wage rates that the U.S. Department of Labor considers being similar to what local workers have been paid for similar projects. For construction contracts subject to these wage rate requirements, the District must include a provision that the contractors and subcontractors comply with those requirements and the Department of Labor’s regulations. This includes a requirement for the contractor and its subcontractor to submit to the District weekly, for each week in which any contract work is performed, certified payroll reports. These reports must include a copy of the payroll and a signed statement of compliance. Description of Condition During the 2021–22 school year, the District paid $3,073,462 from its ESSER II and ESSER III awards to one contractor. This contractor upgraded some of the District’s antiquated heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems to improve air quality and circulation to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Our audit found that the District did not have adequate internal controls for ensuring compliance with federal prevailing wage rate requirements. Specifically, the District did not collect and review weekly certified payroll reports from the contractor to confirm it paid laborers proper prevailing wages. We consider this internal control deficiency to be a material weakness that led to material noncompliance. Cause of Condition District staff were aware of state prevailing wage requirements. However, since this was the first construction project the District paid for with federal funds, staff were unaware of the federal requirement to obtain weekly certified payroll reports. Effect of Condition Without adequate internal controls that ensure it collects all weekly certified payroll reports, the District cannot demonstrate it complied with federal wage rate requirements. The District could be liable for paying any additional wages if the contractor and its subcontractors did not pay prevailing wage rates to laborers working on the contract. During the audit period, the District was required to collect certified payroll reports from one contractor. We found that the District did not obtain any of the weekly certified payroll reports. Recommendation We recommend the District develop internal controls that ensure compliance with federal prevailing wage rate requirements. This should include implementing an effective monitoring process to collect and review all weekly certified payroll reports in a timely manner from contractors and subcontractors. District’s Response The District stewards public resources carefully and takes pride in developing and maintaining strong internal controls. The District has already made adjustments in response to this finding to ensure compliance for Federally funded construction projects. Going forward, the District will also ensure staff are appropriately trained on these requirements. The context of this finding is that the District had established internal controls to check for compliance with state prevailing wage requirements. Until 2021-22, the District very rarely utilized Federal funds for public works contracts, and thus the unique and complex nature of these Federal resources and the requirements around their use were unanticipated. When made aware of this oversight during the audit, the District took steps to review certified payroll documents from the beginning of the project to the current period, and to verify that contractors were in compliance with Federal prevailing wage rules. The District respects and values the work of the State Auditor’s Office in conducting their annual audit. However, given that numerous districts across the state were provided with one-time federal ESSER dollars to mitigate the impacts of a global pandemic, and that Federal funds are rarely used by districts to support public works projects, all districts would have benefited from clearer guidance and caution by supporting state agencies around these additional federal reporting requirements. Auditor’s Remarks We appreciate the District’s commitment to resolving the issue. We will review the condition during our next audit. Applicable Laws and Regulations Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance), section 516, Audit findings, establishes reporting requirements for audit findings. Title 2 CFR Part 200, Uniform Guidance, section 303, Internal controls, describes the requirements for auditees to maintain internal controls over federal programs and comply with federal program requirements. The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants defines significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in its Codification of Statements on Auditing Standards, section 935, Compliance Audits, paragraph 11. Title 29 CFR, Section 3.3 – Weekly statement with respect to payment of wages, and Section 3.4 – Submission of weekly statements and the preservation and inspection of weekly payroll records, establishes requirements for contractor or subcontractor submission of weekly certified payroll reports. Title 29 CFR, Section 5.5 – Contract provisions and related matters establishes the requirements for the contracting officer to insert in full in any contract in excess of $2,000 which is entered into for the actual construction, alteration and/or repair, including painting and decorating, of a public building or public work, or building or work financed in whole or in part with federal funds the clauses listed, which includes but is not limited to the minimum wages to be paid and payrolls and basic records to be maintained (submission of weekly certified payrolls).
2022-001 The District did not have adequate internal controls for ensuring compliance with federal wage rate requirements. Assistance Listing Number and Title: 84.425, COVID-19 – Education Stabilization Fund Federal Grantor Name: U.S. Department of Education Federal Award/Contract Number: N/A Pass-through Entity Name: Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction Pass-through Award/Contract Number: COVID-19, 84.425W-0459544 COVID-19, 84.425W-0459014 COVID-19, 84.425U-0140613 COVID-19, 84.425U-0140072 COVID-19, 84.425U-0140021 COVID-19, 84.425D-0120523 COVID-19, 84.425D-0138183 COVID-19, 84.425D-0137204 COVID-19, 84.425D-0120128 COVID-19, 84.425U-0712015 Known Questioned Cost Amount: $0 Prior Year Audit Finding: N/A Background The objectives of the Education Stabilization Fund (ESF) program are to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. In fiscal year 2022, the District spent $20,271,990 in federal funding under its ESF awards. This included $20,191,081 in the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER II) Fund subprogram (84.425D), $49,173 in the American Rescue Plan Elementary and School Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER/ESSER III) subprogram (84.425U), and $31,736 in the American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief – Homeless Children and Youth (ARP-HCY) subprogram (84.425W). Federal regulations require award recipients to establish and follow internal controls that ensure compliance with program requirements. These controls include understanding program requirements and monitoring the effectiveness of established controls. Under federal wage rate requirements, also known as the Davis-Bacon Act, contractors and subcontractors that work on projects financed with more than $2,000 of federal money must pay laborers and mechanics wage rates that the U.S. Department of Labor considers being similar to what local workers have been paid for similar projects. For construction contracts subject to these wage rate requirements, the District must include a provision that the contractors and subcontractors comply with those requirements and the Department of Labor’s regulations. This includes a requirement for the contractor and its subcontractor to submit to the District weekly, for each week in which any contract work is performed, certified payroll reports. These reports must include a copy of the payroll and a signed statement of compliance. Description of Condition During the 2021–22 school year, the District paid $3,073,462 from its ESSER II and ESSER III awards to one contractor. This contractor upgraded some of the District’s antiquated heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems to improve air quality and circulation to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Our audit found that the District did not have adequate internal controls for ensuring compliance with federal prevailing wage rate requirements. Specifically, the District did not collect and review weekly certified payroll reports from the contractor to confirm it paid laborers proper prevailing wages. We consider this internal control deficiency to be a material weakness that led to material noncompliance. Cause of Condition District staff were aware of state prevailing wage requirements. However, since this was the first construction project the District paid for with federal funds, staff were unaware of the federal requirement to obtain weekly certified payroll reports. Effect of Condition Without adequate internal controls that ensure it collects all weekly certified payroll reports, the District cannot demonstrate it complied with federal wage rate requirements. The District could be liable for paying any additional wages if the contractor and its subcontractors did not pay prevailing wage rates to laborers working on the contract. During the audit period, the District was required to collect certified payroll reports from one contractor. We found that the District did not obtain any of the weekly certified payroll reports. Recommendation We recommend the District develop internal controls that ensure compliance with federal prevailing wage rate requirements. This should include implementing an effective monitoring process to collect and review all weekly certified payroll reports in a timely manner from contractors and subcontractors. District’s Response The District stewards public resources carefully and takes pride in developing and maintaining strong internal controls. The District has already made adjustments in response to this finding to ensure compliance for Federally funded construction projects. Going forward, the District will also ensure staff are appropriately trained on these requirements. The context of this finding is that the District had established internal controls to check for compliance with state prevailing wage requirements. Until 2021-22, the District very rarely utilized Federal funds for public works contracts, and thus the unique and complex nature of these Federal resources and the requirements around their use were unanticipated. When made aware of this oversight during the audit, the District took steps to review certified payroll documents from the beginning of the project to the current period, and to verify that contractors were in compliance with Federal prevailing wage rules. The District respects and values the work of the State Auditor’s Office in conducting their annual audit. However, given that numerous districts across the state were provided with one-time federal ESSER dollars to mitigate the impacts of a global pandemic, and that Federal funds are rarely used by districts to support public works projects, all districts would have benefited from clearer guidance and caution by supporting state agencies around these additional federal reporting requirements. Auditor’s Remarks We appreciate the District’s commitment to resolving the issue. We will review the condition during our next audit. Applicable Laws and Regulations Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance), section 516, Audit findings, establishes reporting requirements for audit findings. Title 2 CFR Part 200, Uniform Guidance, section 303, Internal controls, describes the requirements for auditees to maintain internal controls over federal programs and comply with federal program requirements. The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants defines significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in its Codification of Statements on Auditing Standards, section 935, Compliance Audits, paragraph 11. Title 29 CFR, Section 3.3 – Weekly statement with respect to payment of wages, and Section 3.4 – Submission of weekly statements and the preservation and inspection of weekly payroll records, establishes requirements for contractor or subcontractor submission of weekly certified payroll reports. Title 29 CFR, Section 5.5 – Contract provisions and related matters establishes the requirements for the contracting officer to insert in full in any contract in excess of $2,000 which is entered into for the actual construction, alteration and/or repair, including painting and decorating, of a public building or public work, or building or work financed in whole or in part with federal funds the clauses listed, which includes but is not limited to the minimum wages to be paid and payrolls and basic records to be maintained (submission of weekly certified payrolls).
2022-001 The District did not have adequate internal controls for ensuring compliance with federal wage rate requirements. Assistance Listing Number and Title: 84.425, COVID-19 – Education Stabilization Fund Federal Grantor Name: U.S. Department of Education Federal Award/Contract Number: N/A Pass-through Entity Name: Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction Pass-through Award/Contract Number: COVID-19, 84.425W-0459544 COVID-19, 84.425W-0459014 COVID-19, 84.425U-0140613 COVID-19, 84.425U-0140072 COVID-19, 84.425U-0140021 COVID-19, 84.425D-0120523 COVID-19, 84.425D-0138183 COVID-19, 84.425D-0137204 COVID-19, 84.425D-0120128 COVID-19, 84.425U-0712015 Known Questioned Cost Amount: $0 Prior Year Audit Finding: N/A Background The objectives of the Education Stabilization Fund (ESF) program are to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. In fiscal year 2022, the District spent $20,271,990 in federal funding under its ESF awards. This included $20,191,081 in the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER II) Fund subprogram (84.425D), $49,173 in the American Rescue Plan Elementary and School Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER/ESSER III) subprogram (84.425U), and $31,736 in the American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief – Homeless Children and Youth (ARP-HCY) subprogram (84.425W). Federal regulations require award recipients to establish and follow internal controls that ensure compliance with program requirements. These controls include understanding program requirements and monitoring the effectiveness of established controls. Under federal wage rate requirements, also known as the Davis-Bacon Act, contractors and subcontractors that work on projects financed with more than $2,000 of federal money must pay laborers and mechanics wage rates that the U.S. Department of Labor considers being similar to what local workers have been paid for similar projects. For construction contracts subject to these wage rate requirements, the District must include a provision that the contractors and subcontractors comply with those requirements and the Department of Labor’s regulations. This includes a requirement for the contractor and its subcontractor to submit to the District weekly, for each week in which any contract work is performed, certified payroll reports. These reports must include a copy of the payroll and a signed statement of compliance. Description of Condition During the 2021–22 school year, the District paid $3,073,462 from its ESSER II and ESSER III awards to one contractor. This contractor upgraded some of the District’s antiquated heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems to improve air quality and circulation to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Our audit found that the District did not have adequate internal controls for ensuring compliance with federal prevailing wage rate requirements. Specifically, the District did not collect and review weekly certified payroll reports from the contractor to confirm it paid laborers proper prevailing wages. We consider this internal control deficiency to be a material weakness that led to material noncompliance. Cause of Condition District staff were aware of state prevailing wage requirements. However, since this was the first construction project the District paid for with federal funds, staff were unaware of the federal requirement to obtain weekly certified payroll reports. Effect of Condition Without adequate internal controls that ensure it collects all weekly certified payroll reports, the District cannot demonstrate it complied with federal wage rate requirements. The District could be liable for paying any additional wages if the contractor and its subcontractors did not pay prevailing wage rates to laborers working on the contract. During the audit period, the District was required to collect certified payroll reports from one contractor. We found that the District did not obtain any of the weekly certified payroll reports. Recommendation We recommend the District develop internal controls that ensure compliance with federal prevailing wage rate requirements. This should include implementing an effective monitoring process to collect and review all weekly certified payroll reports in a timely manner from contractors and subcontractors. District’s Response The District stewards public resources carefully and takes pride in developing and maintaining strong internal controls. The District has already made adjustments in response to this finding to ensure compliance for Federally funded construction projects. Going forward, the District will also ensure staff are appropriately trained on these requirements. The context of this finding is that the District had established internal controls to check for compliance with state prevailing wage requirements. Until 2021-22, the District very rarely utilized Federal funds for public works contracts, and thus the unique and complex nature of these Federal resources and the requirements around their use were unanticipated. When made aware of this oversight during the audit, the District took steps to review certified payroll documents from the beginning of the project to the current period, and to verify that contractors were in compliance with Federal prevailing wage rules. The District respects and values the work of the State Auditor’s Office in conducting their annual audit. However, given that numerous districts across the state were provided with one-time federal ESSER dollars to mitigate the impacts of a global pandemic, and that Federal funds are rarely used by districts to support public works projects, all districts would have benefited from clearer guidance and caution by supporting state agencies around these additional federal reporting requirements. Auditor’s Remarks We appreciate the District’s commitment to resolving the issue. We will review the condition during our next audit. Applicable Laws and Regulations Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance), section 516, Audit findings, establishes reporting requirements for audit findings. Title 2 CFR Part 200, Uniform Guidance, section 303, Internal controls, describes the requirements for auditees to maintain internal controls over federal programs and comply with federal program requirements. The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants defines significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in its Codification of Statements on Auditing Standards, section 935, Compliance Audits, paragraph 11. Title 29 CFR, Section 3.3 – Weekly statement with respect to payment of wages, and Section 3.4 – Submission of weekly statements and the preservation and inspection of weekly payroll records, establishes requirements for contractor or subcontractor submission of weekly certified payroll reports. Title 29 CFR, Section 5.5 – Contract provisions and related matters establishes the requirements for the contracting officer to insert in full in any contract in excess of $2,000 which is entered into for the actual construction, alteration and/or repair, including painting and decorating, of a public building or public work, or building or work financed in whole or in part with federal funds the clauses listed, which includes but is not limited to the minimum wages to be paid and payrolls and basic records to be maintained (submission of weekly certified payrolls).