Audit 329384

FY End
2023-12-31
Total Expended
$5.83M
Findings
6
Programs
33
Organization: Vernon County, Wisconsin (WI)
Year: 2023 Accepted: 2024-11-21
Auditor: Kerberrose Sc

Organization Exclusion Status:

Checking exclusion status...

Findings

ID Ref Severity Repeat Requirement
509725 2023-005 Material Weakness - L
509726 2023-005 Material Weakness - L
509727 2023-005 Material Weakness - L
1086167 2023-005 Material Weakness - L
1086168 2023-005 Material Weakness - L
1086169 2023-005 Material Weakness - L

Programs

ALN Program Spent Major Findings
93.778 Medical Assistance Program $525,491 - 0
97.036 Disaster Grants - Public Assistance (presidentially Declared Disasters) $311,198 - 0
10.561 State Administrative Matching Grants for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program $139,052 - 0
93.645 Stephanie Tubbs Jones Child Welfare Services Program $85,117 - 0
93.323 Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity for Infectious Diseases (elc) $69,042 - 0
93.069 Public Health Emergency Preparedness $55,319 - 0
93.558 Temporary Assistance for Needy Families $54,337 - 0
97.039 Hazard Mitigation Grant $47,324 - 0
84.181 Special Education-Grants for Infants and Families $43,737 - 0
93.556 Promoting Safe and Stable Families $42,827 - 0
97.042 Emergency Management Performance Grants $41,366 - 0
93.958 Block Grants for Community Mental Health Services $38,329 - 0
93.575 Child Care and Development Block Grant $34,054 - 0
97.047 Pre-Disaster Mitigation $28,341 - 0
93.090 Guardianship Assistance $25,483 - 0
93.045 Special Programs for the Aging_title Iii, Part C_nutrition Services $24,399 - 0
93.658 Foster Care_title IV-E $22,449 - 0
93.994 Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant to the States $21,998 - 0
93.354 Public Health Emergency Response: Cooperative Agreement for Emergency Response: Public Health Crisis Response $17,515 - 0
93.044 Special Programs for the Aging_title Iii, Part B_grants for Supportive Services and Senior Centers $17,161 - 0
21.027 Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds $15,878 Yes 1
93.563 Child Support Enforcement $12,308 - 0
93.053 Nutrition Services Incentive Program $11,972 - 0
93.767 Children's Health Insurance Program $11,087 - 0
93.268 Immunization Cooperative Agreements $5,761 - 0
93.959 Block Grants for Prevention and Treatment of Substance Abuse $5,000 - 0
10.557 Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children $4,672 - 0
93.667 Social Services Block Grant $3,667 - 0
93.324 State Health Insurance Assistance Program $3,500 - 0
93.071 Medicare Enrollment Assistance Program $3,341 - 0
93.043 Special Programs for the Aging_title Iii, Part D_disease Prevention and Health Promotion Services $3,052 - 0
90.404 2018 Hava Election Security Grants $2,944 - 0
93.052 National Family Caregiver Support, Title Iii, Part E $2,429 - 0

Contacts

Name Title Type
JHYMSMPHXVD6 Cassandra Hanan Auditee
6086375396 Greg Pitel, CPA Auditor
No contacts on file

Notes to SEFA

Title: Basis of Presentation Accounting Policies: Revenues and expenditures in the schedules are presented in accordance with the modified accrual basis of accounting and are generally in agreement with revenues and expenditures reported in the County’s 2023 fund financial statements. Accrued revenue at year-end consists of federal and state program expenditures scheduled for reimbursement to the County in the succeeding year while unearned revenue represents advances for federal and state programs that exceed recorded County expenditures. Because of subsequent program adjustments, these amounts may differ from the prior year’s ending balances. Such expenditures are recognized following the cost principles contained in the Uniform Guidance and State Single Audit guidelines, wherein certain types of expenditures are not allowable or are limited as to reimbursement. De Minimis Rate Used: N Rate Explanation: N/A The accompanying schedules of expenditures of federal and state awards for the County are presented in accordance with the requirements of Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations Part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance) and the State Single Audit Guidelines issued by the Wisconsin Department of Administration. The schedules of expenditures of federal and state awards include all federal and state awards of the County. Because the schedules present only a selected portion of the operations of the County, they are not intended to and do not present the financial position, changes in net position, or cash flows of the County.
Title: Significant Accounting Policies Accounting Policies: Revenues and expenditures in the schedules are presented in accordance with the modified accrual basis of accounting and are generally in agreement with revenues and expenditures reported in the County’s 2023 fund financial statements. Accrued revenue at year-end consists of federal and state program expenditures scheduled for reimbursement to the County in the succeeding year while unearned revenue represents advances for federal and state programs that exceed recorded County expenditures. Because of subsequent program adjustments, these amounts may differ from the prior year’s ending balances. Such expenditures are recognized following the cost principles contained in the Uniform Guidance and State Single Audit guidelines, wherein certain types of expenditures are not allowable or are limited as to reimbursement. De Minimis Rate Used: N Rate Explanation: N/A Revenues and expenditures in the schedules are presented in accordance with the modified accrual basis of accounting and are generally in agreement with revenues and expenditures reported in the County’s 2023 fund financial statements. Accrued revenue at year-end consists of federal and state program expenditures scheduled for reimbursement to the County in the succeeding year while unearned revenue represents advances for federal and state programs that exceed recorded County expenditures. Because of subsequent program adjustments, these amounts may differ from the prior year’s ending balances. Such expenditures are recognized following the cost principles contained in the Uniform Guidance and State Single Audit guidelines, wherein certain types of expenditures are not allowable or are limited as to reimbursement. The County has not elected to charge a de minimis indirect cost rate of 10% of modified total costs.
Title: Oversight Agencies Accounting Policies: Revenues and expenditures in the schedules are presented in accordance with the modified accrual basis of accounting and are generally in agreement with revenues and expenditures reported in the County’s 2023 fund financial statements. Accrued revenue at year-end consists of federal and state program expenditures scheduled for reimbursement to the County in the succeeding year while unearned revenue represents advances for federal and state programs that exceed recorded County expenditures. Because of subsequent program adjustments, these amounts may differ from the prior year’s ending balances. Such expenditures are recognized following the cost principles contained in the Uniform Guidance and State Single Audit guidelines, wherein certain types of expenditures are not allowable or are limited as to reimbursement. De Minimis Rate Used: N Rate Explanation: N/A The federal and state oversight agencies for the County are as follows: Federal - U.S. Department of Homeland Security State - Wisconsin Department of Health Services
Title: Title 19 Medical Assistance Payments Accounting Policies: Revenues and expenditures in the schedules are presented in accordance with the modified accrual basis of accounting and are generally in agreement with revenues and expenditures reported in the County’s 2023 fund financial statements. Accrued revenue at year-end consists of federal and state program expenditures scheduled for reimbursement to the County in the succeeding year while unearned revenue represents advances for federal and state programs that exceed recorded County expenditures. Because of subsequent program adjustments, these amounts may differ from the prior year’s ending balances. Such expenditures are recognized following the cost principles contained in the Uniform Guidance and State Single Audit guidelines, wherein certain types of expenditures are not allowable or are limited as to reimbursement. De Minimis Rate Used: N Rate Explanation: N/A The Schedules of Expenditures of Federal and State Awards do not include repayments received by the County’s Human Service Department for Title 19 Medical Assistance programs. The payments are considered a contract for services between the State and the County and therefore are not reported as federal or state awards.
Title: Pass Through Entities Accounting Policies: Revenues and expenditures in the schedules are presented in accordance with the modified accrual basis of accounting and are generally in agreement with revenues and expenditures reported in the County’s 2023 fund financial statements. Accrued revenue at year-end consists of federal and state program expenditures scheduled for reimbursement to the County in the succeeding year while unearned revenue represents advances for federal and state programs that exceed recorded County expenditures. Because of subsequent program adjustments, these amounts may differ from the prior year’s ending balances. Such expenditures are recognized following the cost principles contained in the Uniform Guidance and State Single Audit guidelines, wherein certain types of expenditures are not allowable or are limited as to reimbursement. De Minimis Rate Used: N Rate Explanation: N/A Federal awards have been passed through the following entities: GWAAR - Greater Wisconsin Agency on Aging Resources WI DCF - Wisconsin Department of Children and Families WI DHS - Wisconsin Department of Health Services WI DMA - Wisconsin Department of Military Affairs WI DNR - Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources WI DOA - Wisconsin Department of Administration WI DOJ - Wisconsin Department of Justice WI DOT - Wisconsin Department of Transportation WI VA - Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs
Title: State Direct Payments Accounting Policies: Revenues and expenditures in the schedules are presented in accordance with the modified accrual basis of accounting and are generally in agreement with revenues and expenditures reported in the County’s 2023 fund financial statements. Accrued revenue at year-end consists of federal and state program expenditures scheduled for reimbursement to the County in the succeeding year while unearned revenue represents advances for federal and state programs that exceed recorded County expenditures. Because of subsequent program adjustments, these amounts may differ from the prior year’s ending balances. Such expenditures are recognized following the cost principles contained in the Uniform Guidance and State Single Audit guidelines, wherein certain types of expenditures are not allowable or are limited as to reimbursement. De Minimis Rate Used: N Rate Explanation: N/A Payments made directly to recipients and vendors by the State of Wisconsin under the FoodShare Wisconsin program on behalf of the County are not included in the Schedules of Expenditures of Federal and State Awards.
Title: State of Wisconsin Aids Reporting System Accounting Policies: Revenues and expenditures in the schedules are presented in accordance with the modified accrual basis of accounting and are generally in agreement with revenues and expenditures reported in the County’s 2023 fund financial statements. Accrued revenue at year-end consists of federal and state program expenditures scheduled for reimbursement to the County in the succeeding year while unearned revenue represents advances for federal and state programs that exceed recorded County expenditures. Because of subsequent program adjustments, these amounts may differ from the prior year’s ending balances. Such expenditures are recognized following the cost principles contained in the Uniform Guidance and State Single Audit guidelines, wherein certain types of expenditures are not allowable or are limited as to reimbursement. De Minimis Rate Used: N Rate Explanation: N/A The Wisconsin Departments of Health Services (DHS) and Children and Families (DCF) utilize the Grant Enrollment, Application and Reporting System (GEARS) and the System for Payments and Reports of Contracts (SPARC) for reimbursing the County for various federal and state program expenditures. The expenditures reported on the Schedules of Expenditures of Federal and State Awards for various DHS & DCF programs agree with the expenditures reported on the May 2024 GEARS for the Human Services and Public Health Departments, and the December 2023 SPARC for Child Support and Child Care programs.

Finding Details

Condition: The County has not implemented formal controls related to ensuring that reporting expenditures was accurate. Criteria: Having staff with expertise in federal award requirements review the reporting requirements to ensure the general ledger supports the expenditures claimed Cause: Employees did not understand reporting requirements and did not segregate specific expenditures claimed in the general ledger. Effect: The reporting requirements applicable to the grant were not met. Recommendation: We recommend management ensure accurate coding of grant expenditures to specific project codes and match those with the expenditures claimed on reports.
Condition: The County has not implemented formal controls related to ensuring that reporting expenditures was accurate. Criteria: Having staff with expertise in federal award requirements review the reporting requirements to ensure the general ledger supports the expenditures claimed Cause: Employees did not understand reporting requirements and did not segregate specific expenditures claimed in the general ledger. Effect: The reporting requirements applicable to the grant were not met. Recommendation: We recommend management ensure accurate coding of grant expenditures to specific project codes and match those with the expenditures claimed on reports.
Condition: The County has not implemented formal controls related to ensuring that reporting expenditures was accurate. Criteria: Having staff with expertise in federal award requirements review the reporting requirements to ensure the general ledger supports the expenditures claimed Cause: Employees did not understand reporting requirements and did not segregate specific expenditures claimed in the general ledger. Effect: The reporting requirements applicable to the grant were not met. Recommendation: We recommend management ensure accurate coding of grant expenditures to specific project codes and match those with the expenditures claimed on reports.
Condition: The County has not implemented formal controls related to ensuring that reporting expenditures was accurate. Criteria: Having staff with expertise in federal award requirements review the reporting requirements to ensure the general ledger supports the expenditures claimed Cause: Employees did not understand reporting requirements and did not segregate specific expenditures claimed in the general ledger. Effect: The reporting requirements applicable to the grant were not met. Recommendation: We recommend management ensure accurate coding of grant expenditures to specific project codes and match those with the expenditures claimed on reports.
Condition: The County has not implemented formal controls related to ensuring that reporting expenditures was accurate. Criteria: Having staff with expertise in federal award requirements review the reporting requirements to ensure the general ledger supports the expenditures claimed Cause: Employees did not understand reporting requirements and did not segregate specific expenditures claimed in the general ledger. Effect: The reporting requirements applicable to the grant were not met. Recommendation: We recommend management ensure accurate coding of grant expenditures to specific project codes and match those with the expenditures claimed on reports.
Condition: The County has not implemented formal controls related to ensuring that reporting expenditures was accurate. Criteria: Having staff with expertise in federal award requirements review the reporting requirements to ensure the general ledger supports the expenditures claimed Cause: Employees did not understand reporting requirements and did not segregate specific expenditures claimed in the general ledger. Effect: The reporting requirements applicable to the grant were not met. Recommendation: We recommend management ensure accurate coding of grant expenditures to specific project codes and match those with the expenditures claimed on reports.