Audit 341902

FY End
2023-12-31
Total Expended
$2.62M
Findings
2
Programs
5
Year: 2023 Accepted: 2025-02-10

Organization Exclusion Status:

Checking exclusion status...

Findings

ID Ref Severity Repeat Requirement
522654 2023-002 Significant Deficiency - B
1099096 2023-002 Significant Deficiency - B

Contacts

Name Title Type
JM2GPKD67GT1 Jonathan Helstrom Auditee
2074721391 Timothy Gill Auditor
No contacts on file

Notes to SEFA

Accounting Policies: A. Reporting Entity - The accompanying schedule includes all federal award programs of Fort Fairfield Utilities District for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023. The reporting entity is defined in Notes to Basic Financial Statements of Fort Fairfield Utilities District. B. Basis of Presentation - The information in the accompanying Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards is presented in accordance with the Uniform Guidance. 1. Pursuant to the Uniform Guidance, federal awards are defined as assistance provided by a federal agency, either directly or indirectly, in the form of grants, contracts, cooperative agreements, loans, loan guarantees, property, interest subsidies, insurance, or direct appropriations. 2. Major Programs - the Uniform Guidance establishes the levels of expenditures or expenses to be used in defining major federal financial award programs. Major programs for Fort Fairfield Utilities District have been identified in the attached Schedule of Findings and Questioned Costs - Summary of Auditor’s Results. De Minimis Rate Used: N Rate Explanation: Fort Fairfield Utilities District has elected not to use the 10-percent de minimis indirect cost rate allowed under the Uniform Guidance.

Finding Details

2023-002 U.S. Department of Rural Development, Assistant Listing #10.760 Water and Waste Disposal Systems for Rural Communities for the period of January 1, 2023 through December 31, 2023 Criteria: Allowable costs under the Water and Waste Disposal Systems for Rural Communities program may only be reimbursed from grant proceeds once. Duplicate reimbursements are considered unallowable costs subject to repayment. In addition, administrative requirements under the Uniform Guidance require grantees to develop internal controls and procedures sufficient to prevent noncompliance. Statement of Condition: Closing costs totaling $49,807 related to the Rural Development permanent loan closing were reimbursed from the grant twice. Cause: The closing costs were reimbursed at closing as a prepayment towards the next pay requisition. When the District submitted the next pay requisition, the closing costs were included on the project worksheet, causing the costs to be reimbursed again. Because the reimbursement at closing was outside the normal request process maintained by the client, controls in place did not capture the duplicate request. Effect: Duplicate costs are unallowable and must be returned to the U.S. Department of Rural Development. Known Questioned Costs: $49,807 Recommendation: We recommend management develop a process to ensure that costs paid at permanent loan closing are included on the pay requisitions and project tracking worksheets, but are not requested for reimbursement.
2023-002 U.S. Department of Rural Development, Assistant Listing #10.760 Water and Waste Disposal Systems for Rural Communities for the period of January 1, 2023 through December 31, 2023 Criteria: Allowable costs under the Water and Waste Disposal Systems for Rural Communities program may only be reimbursed from grant proceeds once. Duplicate reimbursements are considered unallowable costs subject to repayment. In addition, administrative requirements under the Uniform Guidance require grantees to develop internal controls and procedures sufficient to prevent noncompliance. Statement of Condition: Closing costs totaling $49,807 related to the Rural Development permanent loan closing were reimbursed from the grant twice. Cause: The closing costs were reimbursed at closing as a prepayment towards the next pay requisition. When the District submitted the next pay requisition, the closing costs were included on the project worksheet, causing the costs to be reimbursed again. Because the reimbursement at closing was outside the normal request process maintained by the client, controls in place did not capture the duplicate request. Effect: Duplicate costs are unallowable and must be returned to the U.S. Department of Rural Development. Known Questioned Costs: $49,807 Recommendation: We recommend management develop a process to ensure that costs paid at permanent loan closing are included on the pay requisitions and project tracking worksheets, but are not requested for reimbursement.