Audit 330601

FY End
2020-12-31
Total Expended
$874,351
Findings
2
Programs
1
Organization: Dairyland Power Cooperative (WI)
Year: 2020 Accepted: 2024-12-03

Organization Exclusion Status:

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Findings

ID Ref Severity Repeat Requirement
512851 2020-001 Material Weakness - ABHLN
1089293 2020-001 Material Weakness - ABHLN

Programs

ALN Program Spent Major Findings
97.036 Disaster Grants - Public Assistance (presidentially Declared Disasters) $874,351 Yes 1

Contacts

Name Title Type
DRAXZ35QNRS3 Tim Lightfoot Auditee
6087871418 Scott Loveless Auditor
No contacts on file

Notes to SEFA

Title: 1. BASIS OF PRESENTATION Accounting Policies: Expenditures reported on the Schedule are reported on the accrual basis of accounting, which is a basis of accounting in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. 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. De Minimis Rate Used: N Rate Explanation: Not elected to use the de minimis indirect cost rate. The accompanying Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards of the ALN 97.036 Disaster Grants - Public Assistance (Presidentially Declared Disasters) Program for the United States' Department of Homeland Security (the “Schedule”) includes the federal award activity of The Dairyland Power Cooperative (the “Cooperative”). Under the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Federal Emergency Management Agency passed through program funding via the Minnesota Department of Public Safety under the application PW1339 for the year ended December 31, 2020. The information in this Schedule is 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 (the “Uniform Guidance”). Because the Schedule presents only a selected portion of the operations of the Cooperative, it is not intended to and does not present the financial position, changes in net assets, or cash flows of the Cooperative. The Schedule includes $73,000 of program expenditures that relate to prior years, that were incurred before the grant funds were obligated in August 2020.
Title: 2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICES Accounting Policies: Expenditures reported on the Schedule are reported on the accrual basis of accounting, which is a basis of accounting in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. 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. De Minimis Rate Used: N Rate Explanation: Not elected to use the de minimis indirect cost rate. Expenditures reported on the Schedule are reported on the accrual basis of accounting, which is a basis of accounting in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. 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.
Title: 3. INDIRECT COST RATE Accounting Policies: Expenditures reported on the Schedule are reported on the accrual basis of accounting, which is a basis of accounting in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. 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. De Minimis Rate Used: N Rate Explanation: Not elected to use the de minimis indirect cost rate. The Cooperative has not elected to use the 10% de minimis indirect cost rate for the Disaster Grants Public Assistance Program.

Finding Details

2020 ‐ 001: Material Weaknesses in Internal Controls over Compliance— Activities Allowed and Allowable Costs for Non-payroll expenses, Period of Performance, Reporting, and Special Test and Provisions. Federal Program - Disaster Grants - Public Assistance (Presidentially Declared Disasters) – ALN 97.036 Year: 2020 Federal Agency: US Department of Homeland Security Pass-Through Entity: The Minnesota Division of Homeland Security Criteria — Recipients receiving Federal awards must establish and maintain effective internal controls over the Federal awards that provide reasonable assurance the recipient is managing the Federal awards in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal awards. A structured review process is a key element of any effective internal control framework designed to prevent or detect noncompliance. Condition — When performing procedures to obtain an understanding of internal controls over the program, there was no evidence maintained of designed, implemented, and operating controls for fiscal year 2020. Cause — The entity had turnover of program staff and a change in its IT systems subsequent to the grant expenses being incurred and the audit being performed. These changes resulted in a lack of evidence maintained from the period of the related expenses to support the design, implementation, and operations of the entity’s controls over compliance with federal awards terms and conditions. Effect — The failure to maintain adequate evidence of the design, implementation and operation of controls over compliance could lead to noncompliance with the terms and conditions of federal awards and potential loss of funding. Questioned Cost — N/A Context —The understanding of the internal controls yielded the following results: Compliance requirement Control Finding Activities Allowed and Allowable Costs (Non-Payroll) & Period of Performance There was no evidence maintained to support the design, implementation or operation of the control in place to ensure that vendor invoices were accurately reviewed for allowability and that it was incurred in the period stipulated in the grant agreement prior to the submission for reimbursement. Reporting & Special Test There was no evidence maintained to support the design, implementation or operation of the control in place to ensure a proper review was performed prior to the deadline to verify if the report was accurate and complete. Recommendation — Management should design processes to ensure that evidence of their controls design, implementation and operation are maintained to support the compliance with the terms and conditions of their grant awards. View of Responsible Officials — See Corrective Action Plan
2020 ‐ 001: Material Weaknesses in Internal Controls over Compliance— Activities Allowed and Allowable Costs for Non-payroll expenses, Period of Performance, Reporting, and Special Test and Provisions. Federal Program - Disaster Grants - Public Assistance (Presidentially Declared Disasters) – ALN 97.036 Year: 2020 Federal Agency: US Department of Homeland Security Pass-Through Entity: The Minnesota Division of Homeland Security Criteria — Recipients receiving Federal awards must establish and maintain effective internal controls over the Federal awards that provide reasonable assurance the recipient is managing the Federal awards in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal awards. A structured review process is a key element of any effective internal control framework designed to prevent or detect noncompliance. Condition — When performing procedures to obtain an understanding of internal controls over the program, there was no evidence maintained of designed, implemented, and operating controls for fiscal year 2020. Cause — The entity had turnover of program staff and a change in its IT systems subsequent to the grant expenses being incurred and the audit being performed. These changes resulted in a lack of evidence maintained from the period of the related expenses to support the design, implementation, and operations of the entity’s controls over compliance with federal awards terms and conditions. Effect — The failure to maintain adequate evidence of the design, implementation and operation of controls over compliance could lead to noncompliance with the terms and conditions of federal awards and potential loss of funding. Questioned Cost — N/A Context —The understanding of the internal controls yielded the following results: Compliance requirement Control Finding Activities Allowed and Allowable Costs (Non-Payroll) & Period of Performance There was no evidence maintained to support the design, implementation or operation of the control in place to ensure that vendor invoices were accurately reviewed for allowability and that it was incurred in the period stipulated in the grant agreement prior to the submission for reimbursement. Reporting & Special Test There was no evidence maintained to support the design, implementation or operation of the control in place to ensure a proper review was performed prior to the deadline to verify if the report was accurate and complete. Recommendation — Management should design processes to ensure that evidence of their controls design, implementation and operation are maintained to support the compliance with the terms and conditions of their grant awards. View of Responsible Officials — See Corrective Action Plan