Audit 3200

FY End
2022-12-31
Total Expended
$1.15M
Findings
8
Programs
5
Year: 2022 Accepted: 2023-11-14
Auditor: Sax LLP

Organization Exclusion Status:

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Findings

ID Ref Severity Repeat Requirement
1829 2022-002 Significant Deficiency - B
1830 2022-003 Material Weakness Yes B
1831 2022-002 Significant Deficiency - B
1832 2022-003 Material Weakness Yes B
578271 2022-002 Significant Deficiency - B
578272 2022-003 Material Weakness Yes B
578273 2022-002 Significant Deficiency - B
578274 2022-003 Material Weakness Yes B

Contacts

Name Title Type
MWBSR27ZNLM3 Connie Spreen Auditee
7732416044 Scott Goldberg Auditor
No contacts on file

Notes to SEFA

Title: Basis of Presentation Accounting Policies: Expenditures reported on the Schedule are reported on the accrual basis of accounting. Such expenditures are recognized following the cost principles contained in the Uniform Guidance wherein certain types of expenditures are not allowable or are limited as to reimbursement. Pass-through entity identifying numbers are presented where available. De Minimis Rate Used: Y Rate Explanation: The auditee used the de minimis cost rate. The accompanying schedule of expenditures of federal awards (the “Schedule”) includes the federal grant activity of The Experimental Station: 6100 Blackstone under programs of the federal government for the year ended December 31, 2022. The information in this schedule is presented in accordance with requirements of the Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations Part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (“Uniform Guidance”). Because the schedule presents only a selected portion of the operations of The Experimental Station: 6100 Blackstone, it is not intended to and does not present the financial position, changes in net assets, or cash flows of The Experimental Station: 6100 Blackstone.
Title: Subrecipients Accounting Policies: Expenditures reported on the Schedule are reported on the accrual basis of accounting. Such expenditures are recognized following the cost principles contained in the Uniform Guidance wherein certain types of expenditures are not allowable or are limited as to reimbursement. Pass-through entity identifying numbers are presented where available. De Minimis Rate Used: Y Rate Explanation: The auditee used the de minimis cost rate. The Experimental Station: 6100 Blackstone does not have subrecipients or subrecipient expenditures.

Finding Details

Finding No. 2022-002: Allowable Costs/Cost Principles Program: AL# 10.331 - Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GUSNIP) and AL# 93.667 - Illinois Department of Human Services - Social Service Block Grant (IDHS) Federal Grantor: U.S. Department of Agriculture U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Criteria – The Organization should follow federal cost principles and monitor indirect costs for grants throughout the year to ensure that it is allocating shared costs using a consistent method across all programs in the Organization that are at or below the indirect cost rate for the year. Condition – The Organization did not monitor the indirect cost expense/rate charged to each grant for the year ending 2022. Cause – The Organization first accepted Federal grants for year 2021 and is in process of creating procedures to monitor such information. Effect – The Organization did not charge all programs its fair share of shared costs using a consistent method. Questioned Costs – None Repeat Finding – No Recommendation – We recommend that the Organization updates its policies and procedures to ensure it has internal controls in place to monitor the indirect cost charged to grants throughout the year and make sure it is at or below the indirect cost rate calculated for the year as per the cost principles of the Uniform Guidance. View of Responsible Officials – See Corrective Action Plan.
Finding No. 2022-003: Allowable Costs/Cost Principles Program: AL# 10.331 - Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GUSNIP) AL# 93.667 - Illinois Department of Human Services - Social Service Block Grant (IDHS) Federal Grantor: U.S. Department of Agriculture U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Criteria – The Organization should follow the Uniform Guidance requirements around tracking effort for employees who work on more than one program. The Uniform Guidance documentation requirements for payroll require Organizations to track 100% of employees time or effort if they benefit more than one program. The Organization is required to have control procedures in place to ensure that the payroll charges are accurate, and allowable to the grant. Condition – A sample of payroll disbursements were selected to test internal control over compliance and compliance with allowable costs/cost principles. Out of the items selected, we noted the Organization did not accurately reconcile actual payroll to approved budget, and overcharged payroll for the year to the grants. Cause – The Organization’s policies and procedures require employees who benefit more than one program, to track the time spent on the Federal program and charge actual payroll expense to the program. Effect – Possible disallowance of funds requiring a return of funds received from grant agencies. Questioned Costs – $26,296 Context – Out of a total population of 7 employees whose payroll is directly charged to the grants that were tested, we noted deficiencies in the documentation support for 6 of the individuals’ payroll costs. Repeat Finding – Yes – Finding 2021-003. Please see Summary Schedule of Prior Year Audit Findings. Recommendation – We recommend that the Organization updates its policies and procedures to ensure compliance with proper payroll documentation. We strongly recommend a tracking sheet to track hours spent on each program by each employee to ensure that costs are properly charged to the applicable grants. Views of Responsible Officials – See Corrective Action Plan.
Finding No. 2022-002: Allowable Costs/Cost Principles Program: AL# 10.331 - Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GUSNIP) and AL# 93.667 - Illinois Department of Human Services - Social Service Block Grant (IDHS) Federal Grantor: U.S. Department of Agriculture U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Criteria – The Organization should follow federal cost principles and monitor indirect costs for grants throughout the year to ensure that it is allocating shared costs using a consistent method across all programs in the Organization that are at or below the indirect cost rate for the year. Condition – The Organization did not monitor the indirect cost expense/rate charged to each grant for the year ending 2022. Cause – The Organization first accepted Federal grants for year 2021 and is in process of creating procedures to monitor such information. Effect – The Organization did not charge all programs its fair share of shared costs using a consistent method. Questioned Costs – None Repeat Finding – No Recommendation – We recommend that the Organization updates its policies and procedures to ensure it has internal controls in place to monitor the indirect cost charged to grants throughout the year and make sure it is at or below the indirect cost rate calculated for the year as per the cost principles of the Uniform Guidance. View of Responsible Officials – See Corrective Action Plan.
Finding No. 2022-003: Allowable Costs/Cost Principles Program: AL# 10.331 - Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GUSNIP) AL# 93.667 - Illinois Department of Human Services - Social Service Block Grant (IDHS) Federal Grantor: U.S. Department of Agriculture U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Criteria – The Organization should follow the Uniform Guidance requirements around tracking effort for employees who work on more than one program. The Uniform Guidance documentation requirements for payroll require Organizations to track 100% of employees time or effort if they benefit more than one program. The Organization is required to have control procedures in place to ensure that the payroll charges are accurate, and allowable to the grant. Condition – A sample of payroll disbursements were selected to test internal control over compliance and compliance with allowable costs/cost principles. Out of the items selected, we noted the Organization did not accurately reconcile actual payroll to approved budget, and overcharged payroll for the year to the grants. Cause – The Organization’s policies and procedures require employees who benefit more than one program, to track the time spent on the Federal program and charge actual payroll expense to the program. Effect – Possible disallowance of funds requiring a return of funds received from grant agencies. Questioned Costs – $26,296 Context – Out of a total population of 7 employees whose payroll is directly charged to the grants that were tested, we noted deficiencies in the documentation support for 6 of the individuals’ payroll costs. Repeat Finding – Yes – Finding 2021-003. Please see Summary Schedule of Prior Year Audit Findings. Recommendation – We recommend that the Organization updates its policies and procedures to ensure compliance with proper payroll documentation. We strongly recommend a tracking sheet to track hours spent on each program by each employee to ensure that costs are properly charged to the applicable grants. Views of Responsible Officials – See Corrective Action Plan.
Finding No. 2022-002: Allowable Costs/Cost Principles Program: AL# 10.331 - Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GUSNIP) and AL# 93.667 - Illinois Department of Human Services - Social Service Block Grant (IDHS) Federal Grantor: U.S. Department of Agriculture U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Criteria – The Organization should follow federal cost principles and monitor indirect costs for grants throughout the year to ensure that it is allocating shared costs using a consistent method across all programs in the Organization that are at or below the indirect cost rate for the year. Condition – The Organization did not monitor the indirect cost expense/rate charged to each grant for the year ending 2022. Cause – The Organization first accepted Federal grants for year 2021 and is in process of creating procedures to monitor such information. Effect – The Organization did not charge all programs its fair share of shared costs using a consistent method. Questioned Costs – None Repeat Finding – No Recommendation – We recommend that the Organization updates its policies and procedures to ensure it has internal controls in place to monitor the indirect cost charged to grants throughout the year and make sure it is at or below the indirect cost rate calculated for the year as per the cost principles of the Uniform Guidance. View of Responsible Officials – See Corrective Action Plan.
Finding No. 2022-003: Allowable Costs/Cost Principles Program: AL# 10.331 - Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GUSNIP) AL# 93.667 - Illinois Department of Human Services - Social Service Block Grant (IDHS) Federal Grantor: U.S. Department of Agriculture U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Criteria – The Organization should follow the Uniform Guidance requirements around tracking effort for employees who work on more than one program. The Uniform Guidance documentation requirements for payroll require Organizations to track 100% of employees time or effort if they benefit more than one program. The Organization is required to have control procedures in place to ensure that the payroll charges are accurate, and allowable to the grant. Condition – A sample of payroll disbursements were selected to test internal control over compliance and compliance with allowable costs/cost principles. Out of the items selected, we noted the Organization did not accurately reconcile actual payroll to approved budget, and overcharged payroll for the year to the grants. Cause – The Organization’s policies and procedures require employees who benefit more than one program, to track the time spent on the Federal program and charge actual payroll expense to the program. Effect – Possible disallowance of funds requiring a return of funds received from grant agencies. Questioned Costs – $26,296 Context – Out of a total population of 7 employees whose payroll is directly charged to the grants that were tested, we noted deficiencies in the documentation support for 6 of the individuals’ payroll costs. Repeat Finding – Yes – Finding 2021-003. Please see Summary Schedule of Prior Year Audit Findings. Recommendation – We recommend that the Organization updates its policies and procedures to ensure compliance with proper payroll documentation. We strongly recommend a tracking sheet to track hours spent on each program by each employee to ensure that costs are properly charged to the applicable grants. Views of Responsible Officials – See Corrective Action Plan.
Finding No. 2022-002: Allowable Costs/Cost Principles Program: AL# 10.331 - Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GUSNIP) and AL# 93.667 - Illinois Department of Human Services - Social Service Block Grant (IDHS) Federal Grantor: U.S. Department of Agriculture U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Criteria – The Organization should follow federal cost principles and monitor indirect costs for grants throughout the year to ensure that it is allocating shared costs using a consistent method across all programs in the Organization that are at or below the indirect cost rate for the year. Condition – The Organization did not monitor the indirect cost expense/rate charged to each grant for the year ending 2022. Cause – The Organization first accepted Federal grants for year 2021 and is in process of creating procedures to monitor such information. Effect – The Organization did not charge all programs its fair share of shared costs using a consistent method. Questioned Costs – None Repeat Finding – No Recommendation – We recommend that the Organization updates its policies and procedures to ensure it has internal controls in place to monitor the indirect cost charged to grants throughout the year and make sure it is at or below the indirect cost rate calculated for the year as per the cost principles of the Uniform Guidance. View of Responsible Officials – See Corrective Action Plan.
Finding No. 2022-003: Allowable Costs/Cost Principles Program: AL# 10.331 - Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GUSNIP) AL# 93.667 - Illinois Department of Human Services - Social Service Block Grant (IDHS) Federal Grantor: U.S. Department of Agriculture U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Criteria – The Organization should follow the Uniform Guidance requirements around tracking effort for employees who work on more than one program. The Uniform Guidance documentation requirements for payroll require Organizations to track 100% of employees time or effort if they benefit more than one program. The Organization is required to have control procedures in place to ensure that the payroll charges are accurate, and allowable to the grant. Condition – A sample of payroll disbursements were selected to test internal control over compliance and compliance with allowable costs/cost principles. Out of the items selected, we noted the Organization did not accurately reconcile actual payroll to approved budget, and overcharged payroll for the year to the grants. Cause – The Organization’s policies and procedures require employees who benefit more than one program, to track the time spent on the Federal program and charge actual payroll expense to the program. Effect – Possible disallowance of funds requiring a return of funds received from grant agencies. Questioned Costs – $26,296 Context – Out of a total population of 7 employees whose payroll is directly charged to the grants that were tested, we noted deficiencies in the documentation support for 6 of the individuals’ payroll costs. Repeat Finding – Yes – Finding 2021-003. Please see Summary Schedule of Prior Year Audit Findings. Recommendation – We recommend that the Organization updates its policies and procedures to ensure compliance with proper payroll documentation. We strongly recommend a tracking sheet to track hours spent on each program by each employee to ensure that costs are properly charged to the applicable grants. Views of Responsible Officials – See Corrective Action Plan.