Audit 357953

FY End
2023-12-31
Total Expended
$2.20M
Findings
4
Programs
5
Organization: Faribault County (MN)
Year: 2023 Accepted: 2025-06-03

Organization Exclusion Status:

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Findings

ID Ref Severity Repeat Requirement
563642 2023-006 Significant Deficiency - L
563643 2023-007 Material Weakness - I
1140084 2023-006 Significant Deficiency - L
1140085 2023-007 Material Weakness - I

Contacts

Name Title Type
KCS4GKENJ2N9 Chuck Schrader Auditee
5075266210 Julie Blaha Auditor
No contacts on file

Notes to SEFA

Title: Reconciliation to Schedule of Intergovernmental Revenue Accounting Policies: Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Reporting Entity The Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards presents the activities of federal award programs expended by Faribault County. The County’s reporting entity is defined in Note 1 to the financial statements. The schedule does not include $285,359 in federal awards expended by the Faribault County Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) component unit. The component unit is legally separate from the primary government, and, because it expended less than $750,000 of federal awards for the year ended December 31, 2023, it was not subject to the audit 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). Basis of Presentation The accompanying Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards includes the federal grant activity of Faribault County under programs of the federal government for the year ended December 31, 2023. The information in this schedule is presented in accordance with the requirements of Uniform Guidance. Because the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards presents only a selected portion of the operations of Faribault County, it is not intended to and does not present the financial position, changes in net position, or cash flows of Faribault County. Expenditures reported on the schedule are reported on the modified accrual basis of accounting. Such expenditures are recognized following the Uniform Guidance, wherein certain types of expenditures are not allowable or are limited as to reimbursement. De Minimis Rate Used: N Rate Explanation: De Minimis Cost Rate Faribault County has elected to not to use the ten percent de minimis indirect cost rate allowed under the Uniform Guidance. See the Notes to the SEFA for Charts/Tables

Finding Details

2023-006 Reporting Prior Year Finding Number: N/A Year of Finding Origination: 2023 Type of Finding: Internal Control Over Compliance and Compliance Severity of Deficiency: Significant Deficiency and Other Matter Federal Agency: U.S. Department of the Treasury Program: 21.027 COVID-19 – Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds Award Number and Year: Federal Direct; 2022 Pass-Through Agency: N/A – Direct Criteria: Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations § 200.303 states that the auditee must maintain internal control over federal programs that provides reasonable assurance that the auditee is managing federal awards in compliance with federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the federal awards. The U.S. Department of the Treasury requires submission of an annual Project and Expenditure Report for Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) that includes current period expenditures. Condition: The County understated current period obligations and expenditures reported on the annual Project and Expenditure Report submitted to the U.S. Department of the Treasury by $139,040 in accrued expenditures for a project designated as SLFRF funded. Additionally, the County does not have a process in place to review the Project and Expenditure Report prior to submission. Questioned Costs: None Context: The County opted to spend the SLFRF award under the Revenue Replacement category, which allows spending on broader types of government services. The annual Project and Expenditure Report is required to be submitted to the U.S. Treasury by April 30 of each year for the reporting period ending March 31. Effect: The County is not in compliance with federal reporting requirements. Cause: The County indicated difficulty tracking project expenditures due to staff turnover. Recommendation: We recommend the County review the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s guidance and form instructions to ensure accurate reporting of SLFRF activity. Additionally, the annual Project and Expenditure Report should be reviewed prior to submission. View of Responsible Official: Acknowledge
2023-007 Suspension and Debarment Prior Year Finding Number: N/A Year of Finding Origination: 2023 Type of Finding: Internal Control Over Compliance and Compliance Severity of Deficiency: Material Weakness and Modified Opinion Federal Agency: U.S. Department of the Treasury Program: 21.027 COVID-19 – Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds Award Number and Year: Federal Direct; 2022 Pass-Through Agency: N/A – Direct Criteria: Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations § 200.303 states that the auditee must maintain internal control over federal programs that provides reasonable assurance that the auditee is managing federal awards in compliance with federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the federal awards. Federal requirements prohibit non-federal entities from contracting with or making subawards under covered transactions to parties that are suspended or debarred. Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations § 180.300 describes a required verification process. Prior to entering into the transaction, one of the following must be performed: (1) checking SAM.gov exclusions, (2) collecting a certification, or (3) adding a clause or condition to the covered transaction. The County’s procurement policy requires SAM.gov search results to be documented prior to entering into a covered transaction. Condition: In the sample of three covered transactions tested, the County did not have documentation to support that a verification for suspension or debarred vendors was performed by County staff prior to entering into the covered transactions. Questioned Costs: None Context: None of the vendors tested were listed as suspended or debarred on SAM.gov at the time of the audit. The sample size was based on guidance from chapter 11 of the AICPA Audit Guide, Government Auditing Standards and Single Audits. Effect: Failure to verify vendors are not suspended, debarred, or otherwise excluded prior to entering into a covered transaction may result in the County entering into a transaction with a vendor that is not authorized to provide goods and services under the grant. Cause: The County informed us that documentation of SAM.gov searches for covered transactions could not be located due to staffing changes. Recommendation: We recommend the County maintain documentation to demonstrate that vendors were not suspended, debarred, or otherwise excluded from conducting business with the County; the County should complete this documentation prior to entering into a covered transaction. View of Responsible Official: Acknowledge
2023-006 Reporting Prior Year Finding Number: N/A Year of Finding Origination: 2023 Type of Finding: Internal Control Over Compliance and Compliance Severity of Deficiency: Significant Deficiency and Other Matter Federal Agency: U.S. Department of the Treasury Program: 21.027 COVID-19 – Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds Award Number and Year: Federal Direct; 2022 Pass-Through Agency: N/A – Direct Criteria: Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations § 200.303 states that the auditee must maintain internal control over federal programs that provides reasonable assurance that the auditee is managing federal awards in compliance with federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the federal awards. The U.S. Department of the Treasury requires submission of an annual Project and Expenditure Report for Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) that includes current period expenditures. Condition: The County understated current period obligations and expenditures reported on the annual Project and Expenditure Report submitted to the U.S. Department of the Treasury by $139,040 in accrued expenditures for a project designated as SLFRF funded. Additionally, the County does not have a process in place to review the Project and Expenditure Report prior to submission. Questioned Costs: None Context: The County opted to spend the SLFRF award under the Revenue Replacement category, which allows spending on broader types of government services. The annual Project and Expenditure Report is required to be submitted to the U.S. Treasury by April 30 of each year for the reporting period ending March 31. Effect: The County is not in compliance with federal reporting requirements. Cause: The County indicated difficulty tracking project expenditures due to staff turnover. Recommendation: We recommend the County review the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s guidance and form instructions to ensure accurate reporting of SLFRF activity. Additionally, the annual Project and Expenditure Report should be reviewed prior to submission. View of Responsible Official: Acknowledge
2023-007 Suspension and Debarment Prior Year Finding Number: N/A Year of Finding Origination: 2023 Type of Finding: Internal Control Over Compliance and Compliance Severity of Deficiency: Material Weakness and Modified Opinion Federal Agency: U.S. Department of the Treasury Program: 21.027 COVID-19 – Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds Award Number and Year: Federal Direct; 2022 Pass-Through Agency: N/A – Direct Criteria: Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations § 200.303 states that the auditee must maintain internal control over federal programs that provides reasonable assurance that the auditee is managing federal awards in compliance with federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the federal awards. Federal requirements prohibit non-federal entities from contracting with or making subawards under covered transactions to parties that are suspended or debarred. Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations § 180.300 describes a required verification process. Prior to entering into the transaction, one of the following must be performed: (1) checking SAM.gov exclusions, (2) collecting a certification, or (3) adding a clause or condition to the covered transaction. The County’s procurement policy requires SAM.gov search results to be documented prior to entering into a covered transaction. Condition: In the sample of three covered transactions tested, the County did not have documentation to support that a verification for suspension or debarred vendors was performed by County staff prior to entering into the covered transactions. Questioned Costs: None Context: None of the vendors tested were listed as suspended or debarred on SAM.gov at the time of the audit. The sample size was based on guidance from chapter 11 of the AICPA Audit Guide, Government Auditing Standards and Single Audits. Effect: Failure to verify vendors are not suspended, debarred, or otherwise excluded prior to entering into a covered transaction may result in the County entering into a transaction with a vendor that is not authorized to provide goods and services under the grant. Cause: The County informed us that documentation of SAM.gov searches for covered transactions could not be located due to staffing changes. Recommendation: We recommend the County maintain documentation to demonstrate that vendors were not suspended, debarred, or otherwise excluded from conducting business with the County; the County should complete this documentation prior to entering into a covered transaction. View of Responsible Official: Acknowledge