Audit 362492

FY End
2023-06-30
Total Expended
$3.45M
Findings
2
Programs
14
Organization: Town of Ashland (MA)
Year: 2023 Accepted: 2025-07-17
Auditor: Cbiz CPAS

Organization Exclusion Status:

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Findings

ID Ref Severity Repeat Requirement
571537 2023-001 Significant Deficiency - L
1147979 2023-001 Significant Deficiency - L

Contacts

Name Title Type
UMSQHF3FWBA7 Stephanie Pemberton Auditee
5088810100 Scott McIntire Auditor
No contacts on file

Notes to SEFA

Title: Note 1 - Basis of Presentation Accounting Policies: See form tab De Minimis Rate Used: N Rate Explanation: See form tab The accompanying Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (the “Schedule”) includes the federal award activity of the Town of Ashland, Massachusetts (the “Town”) under programs of the federal government for the year ended June 30, 2023. The information in the Schedule is presented in accordance with the requirements of Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 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 Town, it is not intended to and does not present the financial position, changes in net position or cash flows of the Town.
Title: Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Accounting Policies: See form tab De Minimis Rate Used: N Rate Explanation: See form tab 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 to reimbursement. The amounts reported for the National School Lunch Program - Non-Cash Assistance represent the fair value of commodities received.
Title: Note 3 - De Minimis Cost Rate Accounting Policies: See form tab De Minimis Rate Used: N Rate Explanation: See form tab The Town has elected not to use the 10-percent de minimis indirect cost rate as allowed under the Uniform Guiance.
Title: Note 4 - Subreceipients Accounting Policies: See form tab De Minimis Rate Used: N Rate Explanation: See form tab Of the federal expenditures presented in the Schedule, the Town did not provide federal awards to subrecipients.

Finding Details

Improve Controls and Documentation over Reporting Process Federal Agency: Department of Treasury Award Name: Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund AL Number: 21.027 Award Year: 2023 Compliance Requirement: Reporting Type of Finding Compliance Internal Control over Compliance - Significant Deficiency Criteria or Specific Requirement OMB's Uniform Administrative Requirement, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (UG) requires that grant recipients design internal controls to ensure that reports submitted to the Federal government are timely, complete, and accurate. Management is also responsible for establishing and maintaining effective internal controls over compliance with federal requirements that have a direct and material effect on a federal program. A deficiency in internal control over compliance exists when the design or operation of a control over compliance does not allow management or employees, in the normal course of performing their assigned functions, to prevent, or detect and correct, noncompliance with a type of compliance requirement of a federal program on a timely basis. Condition and Context During the audit of the Town's compliance with the requirements of the CSLFRF program, two issues were identified: 1. The Town did not submit its required annual performance and evaluation report by the designated deadline. The report was due by April 30, 2023 but was submitted on May 24, 2023. 2. Discrepancies were identified between the expenditures reported in the performance and evaluation report and those recorded in the Town's general ledger. Specifically, the $10,810 were incorrectly reported as current period expenditures in the 2023 report but were correctly included as current period expenditures in the 2022 report. In addition, $428,822 of expenditures were incorrectly reported as current period expenditures in the 2023 report but should have been reported in the 2024 report as they were incurred from April to May 2023. Cause Weaknesses in the design and implementation of internal controls. Effect or Potential Effect Due to the weaknesses in internal controls noted above, key line items on reports submitted may not be complete or accurate. No questioned costs are reported as expenditures were actually incurred, and the finding relates to an error in bifurcating costs across reports. Recommendation The Town should design and implement an internal control procedure to ensure that reports are submitted timely and are complete and accurate. Views of Responsible Official Management agrees with the finding. Planned Corrective Action Management's corrective action plan is included at the end of this report after the Schedule of Prior Year Findings.
Improve Controls and Documentation over Reporting Process Federal Agency: Department of Treasury Award Name: Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund AL Number: 21.027 Award Year: 2023 Compliance Requirement: Reporting Type of Finding Compliance Internal Control over Compliance - Significant Deficiency Criteria or Specific Requirement OMB's Uniform Administrative Requirement, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (UG) requires that grant recipients design internal controls to ensure that reports submitted to the Federal government are timely, complete, and accurate. Management is also responsible for establishing and maintaining effective internal controls over compliance with federal requirements that have a direct and material effect on a federal program. A deficiency in internal control over compliance exists when the design or operation of a control over compliance does not allow management or employees, in the normal course of performing their assigned functions, to prevent, or detect and correct, noncompliance with a type of compliance requirement of a federal program on a timely basis. Condition and Context During the audit of the Town's compliance with the requirements of the CSLFRF program, two issues were identified: 1. The Town did not submit its required annual performance and evaluation report by the designated deadline. The report was due by April 30, 2023 but was submitted on May 24, 2023. 2. Discrepancies were identified between the expenditures reported in the performance and evaluation report and those recorded in the Town's general ledger. Specifically, the $10,810 were incorrectly reported as current period expenditures in the 2023 report but were correctly included as current period expenditures in the 2022 report. In addition, $428,822 of expenditures were incorrectly reported as current period expenditures in the 2023 report but should have been reported in the 2024 report as they were incurred from April to May 2023. Cause Weaknesses in the design and implementation of internal controls. Effect or Potential Effect Due to the weaknesses in internal controls noted above, key line items on reports submitted may not be complete or accurate. No questioned costs are reported as expenditures were actually incurred, and the finding relates to an error in bifurcating costs across reports. Recommendation The Town should design and implement an internal control procedure to ensure that reports are submitted timely and are complete and accurate. Views of Responsible Official Management agrees with the finding. Planned Corrective Action Management's corrective action plan is included at the end of this report after the Schedule of Prior Year Findings.