2021‐006 – Deficiencies in Activities Allowed, Allowable Costs, and Period of Performance Controls over Compliance with Payroll – Significant Deficiency Federal Program Information Funding Agency: U.S. Department of Commerce, Minority Business Development Agency Federal Award Agreement Number: Not Applicable Award Year: 2021 Title: MBDA Business Center CFDA Number: 11.805 Pass‐through Agency: Not Applicable, Direct Program Pass‐through Identification Number: Not Applicable, Direct Program Condition ‐ During our review of payroll related transactions, the following were noted For 5 of the 40 payroll transactions tested, the employee did not have an approved timesheet or time and effort available for the pay period. For 3 of the 40 payroll transactions tested, no timesheet or other record of hours worked was available to support hours paid for the pay period. For 1 of the 40 payroll transactions tested, employee was not paid for all hours worked on timesheet. Criteria – 2 CFR section 200.303 – Internal Controls of the Uniform Guidance states that the nonfederal entity must: (a) Establish and maintain effective internal controls over Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non‐Federal entity is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in “Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government” issued by the Comptroller General of the United States or the “Internal Control Integrated Framework”, issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Per 2 CFR section 200.430 – Compensation – personal services, paragraph (i) Charges to Federal awards for salaries and wages must be based on records that accurately reflect the work performed. Questioned Costs –$1,010 Effect ‐ The Entity may unintentionally expense employee’s salary out of the federal grant that does not qualify or under/over compensate what is applicable for the work performed by that employee. This could lead to questioned costs and repayment of funds to the Grantor agency. Cause ‐ The Entity does not have proper controls in place to verify that documentation was maintained to indicate the employees’ time paid under the federal grant. Controls were put in place during the year but were not consistently followed.
#2021-002 – Material Weakness – Allowable Costs/Cost Principles Opioid STR Grant ALN 93.788 Criteria The Office of Management and Budget issuance of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) specifically states uniform administrative requirements, cost principles, and audit requirements for federal awards. CFR 200.430 states, “Charges to Federal Awards for salaries and wages must be based on records that accurately reflect the work performed. These records must be supported by a system of internal control which provides reasonable assurance that the charges are accurate, allowable, and properly allocated.” Condition During the course of the audit, we noted that the Organization used an allocation methodology to allocate salaries to the federal award based upon time spent on the program. However, for eleven of the employees, there were no timesheets to support the amount of time allocated to the Organization’s grant programs. Cause The cause is a lack of proper internal controls which would require the Organization to maintain adequate support for time spent on grant programs and a formal allocation process to allocate payroll costs across the grant programs. Effect The potential effects of not having supporting documentation for the allocation of payroll expenses is potential overbilling of expenses to the grant program. Questioned Costs $33,316 Perspective Information We reviewed a sample of monthly reports filed with the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs and the Drug and Alcohol Program. We examined the payroll for each employee charged to the grant for a total of twenty-six employees. The finding is related to eleven individuals who did not complete timesheets or provide supporting documentation for the amount of time spent on the Organization’s grant programs. Identification as a repeat finding A similar issue was noted in prior year finding #2020-002. Recommendation We recommend that the Organization require timesheets for the hours allocated to the grant programs for all employees whether they are salary or hourly to ensure that the payroll charged to grants is accurate and properly supported. View of responsible officials and planned corrective action Starting in 2023 all employees of the Organization will complete formal time sheets. These sheets will be signed by the Administrative Coordinator and by the Fiscal Coordinator and then entered into the system each pay period to rectify this finding.
#2021-003 – Material Weakness – Activities Allowed or Unallowed Opioid STR Grant ALN 93.788 Criteria The Office of Management and Budget issuance of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) specifically states uniform administrative requirements, cost principles, and audit requirements for federal awards. In accordance with CFR 200.430, payroll costs charged to the program are allowable when: the total compensation paid to individual employees is reasonable according to the work performed on the program and the compensation is in accordance with the established policies of the organization. Condition During the audit we noted the Organization does not have established policies and procedures over payroll. We noted that while the Organization has established hourly and salary pay rates, these rates are not formally established and approved by the Organization’s Board. Cause The cause is a lack of a proper control structure that requires Board approval of pay rates and salaries. The Organization also does not have a process in place to ensure that payroll reports are properly reviewed and approved by a second independent reviewer prior to submission to the payroll company for processing. Effect The potential effects of not having formally approved pay rates and not having payroll reports reviewed by a second level prior to payroll processing is the potential for errors and overcharging of grants. Questioned Costs None Perspective Information We reviewed a sample of reports filed with the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs and the Drug and Alcohol Program. We examined the payroll for each employee charged to the grant for a total of twenty-six employees. The finding represents the unsupported costs noted from this review. Identification as a repeat finding A similar issue was noted in prior year finding #2020-003. Recommendation We recommend that the Organization begin to formally establish and approve employee pay rates and salaries at Official Board Meetings and that these rates are documented in the Board Minutes. The Organization should also implement procedures to include a second level review of the payroll report for accuracy and completeness prior to submission for payment. View of responsible officials and planned corrective action JFT does have all the board minutes on file. However, because we were a small agency, salary rates were not often changed. Additionally, all salary rates and changes were always driven by the ability to obtain the funding needed. Since we were small and there was not always a lot to discuss with the board our board only met twice a year. Therefore, all salary was discussed with the board president, then taken to the board unfortunately there is no formal documentation at this time. As of 2023 our board now meets quarterly. Therefore, the following policy will be included in the fiscal manual: the JFT board of directors will hold a public meeting quarterly. All matters of pay rates and salaries will be approved at the start of each grant cycle. State and county grants will be discussed prior to the July 1 start dates, all federal will be discussed prior to October 1. Any changes in salary must be approved by the board and documented in official board minutes. All board minutes will be placed in a lock file in the Fiscal Coordinator’s office.
#2021-007 – Significant Deficiency – Special Tests Criteria Uniform Guidance (UG) requires non-Federal entities that receive grant funding to have written policies in the following areas: Internal Controls (2CFR 200.303) Travel (2CFR 200.474) Financial Management and Accounting which includes Cash Management and Allowability (2CFR 200.302) Personnel Compensation – Time and Effort Reporting (2CFR 200.430(i)) Conflict of Interest/Disclosures (2CFR 200.318) Procurement (2CFR 200.319) Condition During the audit we noted that the Organization does not have written policies in place over these areas in accordance with Uniform Guidance. Cause The Organization was not aware of the requirement to have these written policies in place. Effect The potential effect of not having these policies in place is that Organization’s expenses are not in accordance with UGG. Questioned Costs None Perspective Information No policies or procedures were noted that are in accordance with Uniform Guidance. As a response to the prior year finding, the Organization noted that they will add policies to the fiscal manual for future compliance. Identification as a repeat finding A similar issue was noted in prior year finding #2020-007. Recommendation We recommend that the Organization update the fiscal manual to include policies that are compliant with Uniform Guidance. View of responsible officials and planned corrective action Policies will be placed and adopted by the agency that meet the UG code. These policies will be placed in the fiscal manual. The fiscal manual will be created by using federal guidelines and by using the DDAP fiscal manual as guidance.
#2021-002 – Material Weakness – Allowable Costs/Cost Principles Opioid STR Grant ALN 93.788 Criteria The Office of Management and Budget issuance of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) specifically states uniform administrative requirements, cost principles, and audit requirements for federal awards. CFR 200.430 states, “Charges to Federal Awards for salaries and wages must be based on records that accurately reflect the work performed. These records must be supported by a system of internal control which provides reasonable assurance that the charges are accurate, allowable, and properly allocated.” Condition During the course of the audit, we noted that the Organization used an allocation methodology to allocate salaries to the federal award based upon time spent on the program. However, for eleven of the employees, there were no timesheets to support the amount of time allocated to the Organization’s grant programs. Cause The cause is a lack of proper internal controls which would require the Organization to maintain adequate support for time spent on grant programs and a formal allocation process to allocate payroll costs across the grant programs. Effect The potential effects of not having supporting documentation for the allocation of payroll expenses is potential overbilling of expenses to the grant program. Questioned Costs $33,316 Perspective Information We reviewed a sample of monthly reports filed with the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs and the Drug and Alcohol Program. We examined the payroll for each employee charged to the grant for a total of twenty-six employees. The finding is related to eleven individuals who did not complete timesheets or provide supporting documentation for the amount of time spent on the Organization’s grant programs. Identification as a repeat finding A similar issue was noted in prior year finding #2020-002. Recommendation We recommend that the Organization require timesheets for the hours allocated to the grant programs for all employees whether they are salary or hourly to ensure that the payroll charged to grants is accurate and properly supported. View of responsible officials and planned corrective action Starting in 2023 all employees of the Organization will complete formal time sheets. These sheets will be signed by the Administrative Coordinator and by the Fiscal Coordinator and then entered into the system each pay period to rectify this finding.
#2021-003 – Material Weakness – Activities Allowed or Unallowed Opioid STR Grant ALN 93.788 Criteria The Office of Management and Budget issuance of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) specifically states uniform administrative requirements, cost principles, and audit requirements for federal awards. In accordance with CFR 200.430, payroll costs charged to the program are allowable when: the total compensation paid to individual employees is reasonable according to the work performed on the program and the compensation is in accordance with the established policies of the organization. Condition During the audit we noted the Organization does not have established policies and procedures over payroll. We noted that while the Organization has established hourly and salary pay rates, these rates are not formally established and approved by the Organization’s Board. Cause The cause is a lack of a proper control structure that requires Board approval of pay rates and salaries. The Organization also does not have a process in place to ensure that payroll reports are properly reviewed and approved by a second independent reviewer prior to submission to the payroll company for processing. Effect The potential effects of not having formally approved pay rates and not having payroll reports reviewed by a second level prior to payroll processing is the potential for errors and overcharging of grants. Questioned Costs None Perspective Information We reviewed a sample of reports filed with the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs and the Drug and Alcohol Program. We examined the payroll for each employee charged to the grant for a total of twenty-six employees. The finding represents the unsupported costs noted from this review. Identification as a repeat finding A similar issue was noted in prior year finding #2020-003. Recommendation We recommend that the Organization begin to formally establish and approve employee pay rates and salaries at Official Board Meetings and that these rates are documented in the Board Minutes. The Organization should also implement procedures to include a second level review of the payroll report for accuracy and completeness prior to submission for payment. View of responsible officials and planned corrective action JFT does have all the board minutes on file. However, because we were a small agency, salary rates were not often changed. Additionally, all salary rates and changes were always driven by the ability to obtain the funding needed. Since we were small and there was not always a lot to discuss with the board our board only met twice a year. Therefore, all salary was discussed with the board president, then taken to the board unfortunately there is no formal documentation at this time. As of 2023 our board now meets quarterly. Therefore, the following policy will be included in the fiscal manual: the JFT board of directors will hold a public meeting quarterly. All matters of pay rates and salaries will be approved at the start of each grant cycle. State and county grants will be discussed prior to the July 1 start dates, all federal will be discussed prior to October 1. Any changes in salary must be approved by the board and documented in official board minutes. All board minutes will be placed in a lock file in the Fiscal Coordinator’s office.
#2021-007 – Significant Deficiency – Special Tests Criteria Uniform Guidance (UG) requires non-Federal entities that receive grant funding to have written policies in the following areas: Internal Controls (2CFR 200.303) Travel (2CFR 200.474) Financial Management and Accounting which includes Cash Management and Allowability (2CFR 200.302) Personnel Compensation – Time and Effort Reporting (2CFR 200.430(i)) Conflict of Interest/Disclosures (2CFR 200.318) Procurement (2CFR 200.319) Condition During the audit we noted that the Organization does not have written policies in place over these areas in accordance with Uniform Guidance. Cause The Organization was not aware of the requirement to have these written policies in place. Effect The potential effect of not having these policies in place is that Organization’s expenses are not in accordance with UGG. Questioned Costs None Perspective Information No policies or procedures were noted that are in accordance with Uniform Guidance. As a response to the prior year finding, the Organization noted that they will add policies to the fiscal manual for future compliance. Identification as a repeat finding A similar issue was noted in prior year finding #2020-007. Recommendation We recommend that the Organization update the fiscal manual to include policies that are compliant with Uniform Guidance. View of responsible officials and planned corrective action Policies will be placed and adopted by the agency that meet the UG code. These policies will be placed in the fiscal manual. The fiscal manual will be created by using federal guidelines and by using the DDAP fiscal manual as guidance.
Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Federal Program Name: Head Start Cluster Assistance Listing Number: 93.600 Pass‐through Agency: N/A Contract numbers: 10CH01029405C3 10CH01029406 10CH01204401 10HE00135801C5 10HE00135801C6 Contract periods: 01/2020‐06/2021 01/2021‐06/2021 07/2021‐12/2021 07/2021‐06/2023 07/2021‐06/2023 Type of Finding: Significant Deficiency in Internal Control Over Compliance ‐ Allowable Costs and Cost Principles Criteria: The Association’s procedures for processing expenditures, and primarily allocating expenditures to programs, should include controls that ensure expenditures are properly charged to program and allocated in accordance with the federal grant requirements. The objective of the Assistance Listing 93.600 Head Start program (including Early Head Start and Early Head Start Partnerships) is to promote school readiness of low‐income children (including American Indians, Alaska Natives and migrant and seasonal farm workers) by enhancing children’s cognitive, social and emotional development. During the fiscal year ending December 31, 2021, the Association expended $4,720,185 in federal funding. Federal regulations require award recipients to establish and follow internal controls that ensure compliance with program requirements. These controls include understanding program requirements and monitoring the effectiveness of established controls. Federal regulations require the Association to have adequate time‐and‐effort documentation to support all payroll costs charged to the Head Start awards. 2 CFR 200.430, Compensation – personal services, states, in part: “(i) Standards for Documentation of Personnel Expenses (1) Charges to Federal awards for salaries and wages must be based on records that accurately reflect the work performed. These records must: (ii) Be supported by a system of internal control which provides reasonable assurance that the charges are accurate, allowable, and properly allocated…” Depending on the number and types of activities employees perform, time and effort documentation can be in the form of semi‐annual certification or monthly personnel activity reports, such as a timesheet. Condition: The Association’s controls were not effective to ensure it maintained adequate time and effort documentation, as required by federal regulations and the grantor. During review of payroll costs for the year ended December 31, 2021, the following was noted: • Payroll costs were charged according to budgeted time rather than reconciling to actual hours worked. • Two payroll disbursements were not allocated in compliance with the Associations approved cost allocation plan. This internal control deficiency is considered to be a significant deficiency. Questioned Costs: None. Context: Procedures included examining payroll charges for 40 randomly selected employees for January through December 2021. Cause: The Association changed the software used for payroll processing from QuickBooks to MIP in July 2020. They then changed their fiscal accounting software from QuickBooks to MIP in January 2021. The new software implementation was fraught with many challenges, one of which being implementing electronic processes that met the time and effort requirements outlined in the Association’s policy manual. Effect: By not keeping proper time‐and‐effort records, the Association cannot demonstrate compliance with grantor’s requirements that require support for payroll costs charged to the federal program. The Association provided alternate documentation that demonstrated the payroll costs charged to the program were allowable. Therefore, we are not questioning costs. Statistical Sampling: The sample was not intended to be, and was not, a statistically valid sample. Recommendation: The Association follow its own documented controls to ensure it prepares adequate time‐ and‐effort documentation to support payroll costs charged to the federal grant. View of Responsible Officials: There is no disagreement with this audit finding.
Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Federal Program Name: Head Start Cluster Assistance Listing Number: 93.600 Pass‐through Agency: N/A Contract numbers: 10CH01029405C3 10CH01029406 10CH01204401 10HE00135801C5 10HE00135801C6 Contract periods: 01/2020‐06/2021 01/2021‐06/2021 07/2021‐12/2021 07/2021‐06/2023 07/2021‐06/2023 Type of Finding: Significant Deficiency in Internal Control Over Compliance ‐ Allowable Costs and Cost Principles Criteria: The Association’s procedures for processing expenditures, and primarily allocating expenditures to programs, should include controls that ensure expenditures are properly charged to program and allocated in accordance with the federal grant requirements. The objective of the Assistance Listing 93.600 Head Start program (including Early Head Start and Early Head Start Partnerships) is to promote school readiness of low‐income children (including American Indians, Alaska Natives and migrant and seasonal farm workers) by enhancing children’s cognitive, social and emotional development. During the fiscal year ending December 31, 2021, the Association expended $4,720,185 in federal funding. Federal regulations require award recipients to establish and follow internal controls that ensure compliance with program requirements. These controls include understanding program requirements and monitoring the effectiveness of established controls. Federal regulations require the Association to have adequate time‐and‐effort documentation to support all payroll costs charged to the Head Start awards. 2 CFR 200.430, Compensation – personal services, states, in part: “(i) Standards for Documentation of Personnel Expenses (1) Charges to Federal awards for salaries and wages must be based on records that accurately reflect the work performed. These records must: (ii) Be supported by a system of internal control which provides reasonable assurance that the charges are accurate, allowable, and properly allocated…” Depending on the number and types of activities employees perform, time and effort documentation can be in the form of semi‐annual certification or monthly personnel activity reports, such as a timesheet. Condition: The Association’s controls were not effective to ensure it maintained adequate time and effort documentation, as required by federal regulations and the grantor. During review of payroll costs for the year ended December 31, 2021, the following was noted: • Payroll costs were charged according to budgeted time rather than reconciling to actual hours worked. • Two payroll disbursements were not allocated in compliance with the Associations approved cost allocation plan. This internal control deficiency is considered to be a significant deficiency. Questioned Costs: None. Context: Procedures included examining payroll charges for 40 randomly selected employees for January through December 2021. Cause: The Association changed the software used for payroll processing from QuickBooks to MIP in July 2020. They then changed their fiscal accounting software from QuickBooks to MIP in January 2021. The new software implementation was fraught with many challenges, one of which being implementing electronic processes that met the time and effort requirements outlined in the Association’s policy manual. Effect: By not keeping proper time‐and‐effort records, the Association cannot demonstrate compliance with grantor’s requirements that require support for payroll costs charged to the federal program. The Association provided alternate documentation that demonstrated the payroll costs charged to the program were allowable. Therefore, we are not questioning costs. Statistical Sampling: The sample was not intended to be, and was not, a statistically valid sample. Recommendation: The Association follow its own documented controls to ensure it prepares adequate time‐ and‐effort documentation to support payroll costs charged to the federal grant. View of Responsible Officials: There is no disagreement with this audit finding.
Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Federal Program Name: Head Start Cluster Assistance Listing Number: 93.600 Pass‐through Agency: N/A Contract numbers: 10CH01029405C3 10CH01029406 10CH01204401 10HE00135801C5 10HE00135801C6 Contract periods: 01/2020‐06/2021 01/2021‐06/2021 07/2021‐12/2021 07/2021‐06/2023 07/2021‐06/2023 Type of Finding: Significant Deficiency in Internal Control Over Compliance ‐ Allowable Costs and Cost Principles Criteria: The Association’s procedures for processing expenditures, and primarily allocating expenditures to programs, should include controls that ensure expenditures are properly charged to program and allocated in accordance with the federal grant requirements. The objective of the Assistance Listing 93.600 Head Start program (including Early Head Start and Early Head Start Partnerships) is to promote school readiness of low‐income children (including American Indians, Alaska Natives and migrant and seasonal farm workers) by enhancing children’s cognitive, social and emotional development. During the fiscal year ending December 31, 2021, the Association expended $4,720,185 in federal funding. Federal regulations require award recipients to establish and follow internal controls that ensure compliance with program requirements. These controls include understanding program requirements and monitoring the effectiveness of established controls. Federal regulations require the Association to have adequate time‐and‐effort documentation to support all payroll costs charged to the Head Start awards. 2 CFR 200.430, Compensation – personal services, states, in part: “(i) Standards for Documentation of Personnel Expenses (1) Charges to Federal awards for salaries and wages must be based on records that accurately reflect the work performed. These records must: (ii) Be supported by a system of internal control which provides reasonable assurance that the charges are accurate, allowable, and properly allocated…” Depending on the number and types of activities employees perform, time and effort documentation can be in the form of semi‐annual certification or monthly personnel activity reports, such as a timesheet. Condition: The Association’s controls were not effective to ensure it maintained adequate time and effort documentation, as required by federal regulations and the grantor. During review of payroll costs for the year ended December 31, 2021, the following was noted: • Payroll costs were charged according to budgeted time rather than reconciling to actual hours worked. • Two payroll disbursements were not allocated in compliance with the Associations approved cost allocation plan. This internal control deficiency is considered to be a significant deficiency. Questioned Costs: None. Context: Procedures included examining payroll charges for 40 randomly selected employees for January through December 2021. Cause: The Association changed the software used for payroll processing from QuickBooks to MIP in July 2020. They then changed their fiscal accounting software from QuickBooks to MIP in January 2021. The new software implementation was fraught with many challenges, one of which being implementing electronic processes that met the time and effort requirements outlined in the Association’s policy manual. Effect: By not keeping proper time‐and‐effort records, the Association cannot demonstrate compliance with grantor’s requirements that require support for payroll costs charged to the federal program. The Association provided alternate documentation that demonstrated the payroll costs charged to the program were allowable. Therefore, we are not questioning costs. Statistical Sampling: The sample was not intended to be, and was not, a statistically valid sample. Recommendation: The Association follow its own documented controls to ensure it prepares adequate time‐ and‐effort documentation to support payroll costs charged to the federal grant. View of Responsible Officials: There is no disagreement with this audit finding.
Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Federal Program Name: Head Start Cluster Assistance Listing Number: 93.600 Pass‐through Agency: N/A Contract numbers: 10CH01029405C3 10CH01029406 10CH01204401 10HE00135801C5 10HE00135801C6 Contract periods: 01/2020‐06/2021 01/2021‐06/2021 07/2021‐12/2021 07/2021‐06/2023 07/2021‐06/2023 Type of Finding: Significant Deficiency in Internal Control Over Compliance ‐ Allowable Costs and Cost Principles Criteria: The Association’s procedures for processing expenditures, and primarily allocating expenditures to programs, should include controls that ensure expenditures are properly charged to program and allocated in accordance with the federal grant requirements. The objective of the Assistance Listing 93.600 Head Start program (including Early Head Start and Early Head Start Partnerships) is to promote school readiness of low‐income children (including American Indians, Alaska Natives and migrant and seasonal farm workers) by enhancing children’s cognitive, social and emotional development. During the fiscal year ending December 31, 2021, the Association expended $4,720,185 in federal funding. Federal regulations require award recipients to establish and follow internal controls that ensure compliance with program requirements. These controls include understanding program requirements and monitoring the effectiveness of established controls. Federal regulations require the Association to have adequate time‐and‐effort documentation to support all payroll costs charged to the Head Start awards. 2 CFR 200.430, Compensation – personal services, states, in part: “(i) Standards for Documentation of Personnel Expenses (1) Charges to Federal awards for salaries and wages must be based on records that accurately reflect the work performed. These records must: (ii) Be supported by a system of internal control which provides reasonable assurance that the charges are accurate, allowable, and properly allocated…” Depending on the number and types of activities employees perform, time and effort documentation can be in the form of semi‐annual certification or monthly personnel activity reports, such as a timesheet. Condition: The Association’s controls were not effective to ensure it maintained adequate time and effort documentation, as required by federal regulations and the grantor. During review of payroll costs for the year ended December 31, 2021, the following was noted: • Payroll costs were charged according to budgeted time rather than reconciling to actual hours worked. • Two payroll disbursements were not allocated in compliance with the Associations approved cost allocation plan. This internal control deficiency is considered to be a significant deficiency. Questioned Costs: None. Context: Procedures included examining payroll charges for 40 randomly selected employees for January through December 2021. Cause: The Association changed the software used for payroll processing from QuickBooks to MIP in July 2020. They then changed their fiscal accounting software from QuickBooks to MIP in January 2021. The new software implementation was fraught with many challenges, one of which being implementing electronic processes that met the time and effort requirements outlined in the Association’s policy manual. Effect: By not keeping proper time‐and‐effort records, the Association cannot demonstrate compliance with grantor’s requirements that require support for payroll costs charged to the federal program. The Association provided alternate documentation that demonstrated the payroll costs charged to the program were allowable. Therefore, we are not questioning costs. Statistical Sampling: The sample was not intended to be, and was not, a statistically valid sample. Recommendation: The Association follow its own documented controls to ensure it prepares adequate time‐ and‐effort documentation to support payroll costs charged to the federal grant. View of Responsible Officials: There is no disagreement with this audit finding.
Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Federal Program Name: Head Start Cluster Assistance Listing Number: 93.600 Pass‐through Agency: N/A Contract numbers: 10CH01029405C3 10CH01029406 10CH01204401 10HE00135801C5 10HE00135801C6 Contract periods: 01/2020‐06/2021 01/2021‐06/2021 07/2021‐12/2021 07/2021‐06/2023 07/2021‐06/2023 Type of Finding: Significant Deficiency in Internal Control Over Compliance ‐ Allowable Costs and Cost Principles Criteria: The Association’s procedures for processing expenditures, and primarily allocating expenditures to programs, should include controls that ensure expenditures are properly charged to program and allocated in accordance with the federal grant requirements. The objective of the Assistance Listing 93.600 Head Start program (including Early Head Start and Early Head Start Partnerships) is to promote school readiness of low‐income children (including American Indians, Alaska Natives and migrant and seasonal farm workers) by enhancing children’s cognitive, social and emotional development. During the fiscal year ending December 31, 2021, the Association expended $4,720,185 in federal funding. Federal regulations require award recipients to establish and follow internal controls that ensure compliance with program requirements. These controls include understanding program requirements and monitoring the effectiveness of established controls. Federal regulations require the Association to have adequate time‐and‐effort documentation to support all payroll costs charged to the Head Start awards. 2 CFR 200.430, Compensation – personal services, states, in part: “(i) Standards for Documentation of Personnel Expenses (1) Charges to Federal awards for salaries and wages must be based on records that accurately reflect the work performed. These records must: (ii) Be supported by a system of internal control which provides reasonable assurance that the charges are accurate, allowable, and properly allocated…” Depending on the number and types of activities employees perform, time and effort documentation can be in the form of semi‐annual certification or monthly personnel activity reports, such as a timesheet. Condition: The Association’s controls were not effective to ensure it maintained adequate time and effort documentation, as required by federal regulations and the grantor. During review of payroll costs for the year ended December 31, 2021, the following was noted: • Payroll costs were charged according to budgeted time rather than reconciling to actual hours worked. • Two payroll disbursements were not allocated in compliance with the Associations approved cost allocation plan. This internal control deficiency is considered to be a significant deficiency. Questioned Costs: None. Context: Procedures included examining payroll charges for 40 randomly selected employees for January through December 2021. Cause: The Association changed the software used for payroll processing from QuickBooks to MIP in July 2020. They then changed their fiscal accounting software from QuickBooks to MIP in January 2021. The new software implementation was fraught with many challenges, one of which being implementing electronic processes that met the time and effort requirements outlined in the Association’s policy manual. Effect: By not keeping proper time‐and‐effort records, the Association cannot demonstrate compliance with grantor’s requirements that require support for payroll costs charged to the federal program. The Association provided alternate documentation that demonstrated the payroll costs charged to the program were allowable. Therefore, we are not questioning costs. Statistical Sampling: The sample was not intended to be, and was not, a statistically valid sample. Recommendation: The Association follow its own documented controls to ensure it prepares adequate time‐ and‐effort documentation to support payroll costs charged to the federal grant. View of Responsible Officials: There is no disagreement with this audit finding.
Questioned Cost: None Criteria: The cost principles in 2 CFR Part 200, subpart E (Cost Principles) prescribe requirements for allowable costs relative to compensation and substantiation requirements specifically, 2 CFR Part 200.430(i) states “Cost must be supported by a system of internal control which provides reasonable assurance that the charges are accurate, allowable, and properly allocated.” Condition: Employee change of status forms are not consistently maintained in accordance with applicable requirements. Context: 13 Employee files were selected for verification disclosed 10 instances where forms were not available for review. Cause: Employee change of status forms or offer letters were not maintained on file or available for review. Effect: Inability to review employee change of status forms or offer letters limits the ability to verify costs allowability as required. As a result of the missing forms, it is not possible to fully ascertain compliance with allowable costs as required by 2 CFR 200.430. Recommendation: Offer letters or employee change of status forms should be maintained on file. Views of Responsible Official: Personnel files were not maintained while CRA was without a Director and human resources professional for 2020 and 2021. We have since hired a Human Resources Director, Beth Anne Falco, who is in the process of bringing all employee files current. As part of the updated files, CRA intends to issue new employee forms in the beginning of FY25, which will include updated job descriptions, salary information, payroll, and benefits.
Finding 2021-008 Lack of Internal Controls Over Activities Allowed or Unallowed and Allowable Costs/Costs Principles Federal Agencies: U.S. Department of the Treasury Federal Programs: Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) and Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (CSLFRF), respectively CFDA Numbers: 21.019 and 21.027, respectively Award Number: SLT0591/0845/1405 and SLFRP2520/4520, respectively Award Year: 2020 and 2021, respectively Type of Finding: Material weakness in internal control over compliance and material noncompliance. Criteria: Per 2 CFR part 200.430, personnel expenses recorded into a federal program must be based on records that accurately reflect the work performed. Hourly employees should be paid for hours worked and documented through a system of internal controls which provides reasonable assurance that the charges are accurate, allowable and properly allocated. Internal controls procedures should be in place to ensure that all cash disbursements and payroll transactions are adequately supported by documentation, approved with accurate account coding on the approval form, retained for support either in the vendor, employee, or program file. Condition and Context: During our testing of payroll transactions charged to the CRF program, the Community did not provide documentation of approved pay rates for any of the 10 paychecks reviewed. The Community also did not provide any supporting documentation or justification for a journal entry moving payroll costs into the CRF program. During our testing of payroll transactions charged to the CSLFRF program, the Community did not provide documentation of approved pay rates for either of the 2 paychecks reviewed. Cause: Lack of internal controls over payroll transactions. Effect: Lack of internal control over payroll transactions poses the risk that the Community will expend federal funds for non-grant purposes or that employees will be paid and incorrect rate. Questioned costs: Actual and likely questioned costs are estimated to be below the reporting threshold of $25,000. Repeat finding: This is a repeat of Finding 2020-009; therefore, we believe this to be a systemic issue. Recommendation: We recommend that management implement policies and procedures to ensure that all paychecks are supported by an approved pay rate, hours worked agree to the hours paid, are accurately calculated and recorded in the general ledger and retained for records for the program. Management Response: Management agrees with this finding, see Corrective Action Plan.
2021‐001 – Internal Controls over Activities Allowed and Allowable Costs – Significant Deficiency in Internal Controls over Compliance Federal Program Information: Funding Agency: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Title: Provider Relief Fund CFDA Number: 93.498 Federal Award Identification number Award Year: 2020‐21 Condition: There were 2 samples that the Entity could not provide supporting documentation and 21 samples that the employee was not paid the approved pay rate. Criteria: Per 2 CFR section 200.303(a) the entity must ‐ Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non‐Federal entity is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in “Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government” issued by the Comptroller General of the United States or the “Internal Control Integrated Framework”, issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Per 2 CFR section 200.403(g) – in order to be allowable under Federal awards, costs must be adequately documented and Per 2 CFR section 200.430(i) – Compensation – personal services – Standards for Documentation of Personnel Expenses, Charges to Federal awards for salaries and wages must be based on records that accurately reflect the work performed. These records must (i) Be supported by a system of internal control which provides reasonable assurance that the charges are accurate, allowable, and properly allocated. Questioned costs: Employee paid a rate other than the approved pay rate. Total dollar amount of $874 was divided by the total payroll population tested to get a 7% error and then multiplied by the total payroll expenditures of the program to get a questioned costs of $6,848. Effect: The Entity paid employees time at a rate not approved. In addition the Entity did not retain supporting documentation. Cause: The Entity did not retain supporting documentation for expenditures paid with federal funding and did not have approved pay rate documentation to support the pay rate employee was paid. Auditors’ Recommendation: The Auditor recommends that the Entity implement controls for documenting and retaining information on expenditures charged to federal awards to follow the requirements over 2 CFR Section 200.430(g)(i) and in addition the Entity is properly paying employees at the approved pay rate. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Action: See Corrective Action Plan.
2021‐001 – Internal Controls over Activities Allowed and Allowable Costs – Significant Deficiency in Internal Controls over Compliance Federal Program Information: Funding Agency: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Title: Provider Relief Fund CFDA Number: 93.498 Federal Award Identification number Award Year: 2020‐21 Condition: There were 2 samples that the Entity could not provide supporting documentation and 21 samples that the employee was not paid the approved pay rate. Criteria: Per 2 CFR section 200.303(a) the entity must ‐ Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non‐Federal entity is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in “Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government” issued by the Comptroller General of the United States or the “Internal Control Integrated Framework”, issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Per 2 CFR section 200.403(g) – in order to be allowable under Federal awards, costs must be adequately documented and Per 2 CFR section 200.430(i) – Compensation – personal services – Standards for Documentation of Personnel Expenses, Charges to Federal awards for salaries and wages must be based on records that accurately reflect the work performed. These records must (i) Be supported by a system of internal control which provides reasonable assurance that the charges are accurate, allowable, and properly allocated. Questioned costs: Employee paid a rate other than the approved pay rate. Total dollar amount of $874 was divided by the total payroll population tested to get a 7% error and then multiplied by the total payroll expenditures of the program to get a questioned costs of $6,848. Effect: The Entity paid employees time at a rate not approved. In addition the Entity did not retain supporting documentation. Cause: The Entity did not retain supporting documentation for expenditures paid with federal funding and did not have approved pay rate documentation to support the pay rate employee was paid. Auditors’ Recommendation: The Auditor recommends that the Entity implement controls for documenting and retaining information on expenditures charged to federal awards to follow the requirements over 2 CFR Section 200.430(g)(i) and in addition the Entity is properly paying employees at the approved pay rate. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Action: See Corrective Action Plan.
Criteria: The requirements for allowable costs related to wages and salaries are contained in 2 CFR Section 200.430. This states that salaries and wages charged to federal awards must be based on records that accurately reflect the work performed. These records must be supported by a system of internal control which provides reasonable assurance that the charges are accurate, allowable, and properly allocated. Condition: During the year under audit, PAX did not have a time and effort reporting system that met the requirements of the federal cost principles. Citation: 2 CFR 200.430 Cause: PAX did not have an effective internal control system in place for monitoring and documenting wages and salaries charged to the federal awards. Effect: PAX did not maintain adequate documentation to support salaries charged to the federal awards throughout the year. However, they provided attestations and other support to demonstrate that the salaries and wages were accurate, allowable, and properly allocated after year-end as part of the audit process. Questioned Costs: PAX charged $1,135,897 of wages and salaries to the major program. Context: This sample was not intended to be, and was not, a statistically valid sample. Repeat Finding: Yes Recommendation: We recommend that management establish internal control process, such as a time sheet reporting system, to capture which grant each employee spends time on. View of Responsible Officials: See Corrective Action Plan attached.
Finding Number: 2021-SA3 Material Weakness – Activities Allowed or Unallowed and Allowable Costs/Cost Principles and Period of Performance Compliance and Control Finding Federal Award: No. 64.024 VA Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program Federal Agency: U.S. Veterans Administration Pass-Through Entity: Not applicable Criteria or Specific Requirement: CFR section 200.403, Factors affecting allowability of costs, states costs must: conform to limitations or exclusions, be accorded consistent treatment, a cost may not be assigned to a Federal award as a direct cost if any other cost incurred for the same purpose in like circumstances has been allocated to the Federal award as an indirect cost and be adequately documented. 2 CFR section 200.405, Allowable costs, states this standard is met if the cost is incurred specifically for the Federal award. 2 CFR section 200.430(i) Standards for Documentation of Personnel Expenses state charges to Federal awards for salaries must be based on records that accurately reflect the work performed and these records must be supported by a system of internal control which provides reasonable assurance that the charges are accurate, allowable, and properly allocated, support the distribution of the employee’s salary or wages among specific activities or cost objectives if the employee works on more than one Federal award a Federal award and non-Federal award and charges for the salaries and wages of nonexempt employees… must be supported by records indicating the total number of hours worked each day. Condition: The Organization did not maintain an effective control environment to ensure costs incurred for expenditures charged to the program were in accordance with contract requirements and applicable cost principles. Records do not provide reasonable assurance that the charges are accurate, allowable, and properly allocated. Records do not appear to support the distribution of the employee’s salary or wages among specific activities or cost objectives if the employee works on more than one Federal award or a Federal award and non-federal activity. Charges for non-exempt employees are not supported by records indicating the total number of hours worked each day. Expenditure details included costs that were allocated to the Federal award but may not have been incurred specifically for the Federal award. These costs included unsupported journal entries and uncategorized expenditures. Additionally, due to lack of budgets for the fiscal year, it was not determinable if costs conformed to limitations or exclusions set forth in the Federal award. Costs were not adequately documented, and it is unknown if costs were accorded consistent treatment. Cause: Factors beyond the control of current management, including poor recordkeeping, have caused financial records to be inadequate for audit purposes, as key members of the accounting department left the Organization before appropriately transferring knowledge and records related to the Federal awards. Effect or Potential Effect: Potential for unallowable activities, unallowable costs, and costs outside of the period of performance and additional questioned costs. Questioned Costs: Related questioned costs related to payroll expenditures are unknown. Questioned costs related to non-payroll expenditures are unknown. Context: During the year under audit, the issues represent a systemic problem, beyond the control of current management. Recommendation: Policies and procedures should be designed and implemented to ensure expenditures are reviewed for allowability before being charged to federal awards. Policies and procedures should be designed and implemented to ensure costs are reviewed for allowability before being charged to federal awards. Management should perform budget to actual analysis on a periodic basis to ensure that costs are not exceeding limitations. View of Responsible Officials: In response to finding number 2021-SA3, management agrees with the finding and will design, implement, and maintain policies and procedures that ensure expenditures are reviewed for allowability before being charged to Federal awards. Management will also design, implement, and maintain policies and procedures that ensure costs are reviewed for allowability before being charged to Federal awards. Further, management will perform budget-to-actual analysis on a periodic basis to ensure costs do not exceed limitations.
Finding Number: 2021-SA3 Material Weakness – Activities Allowed or Unallowed and Allowable Costs/Cost Principles and Period of Performance Compliance and Control Finding Federal Award: No. 64.024 VA Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program Federal Agency: U.S. Veterans Administration Pass-Through Entity: Not applicable Criteria or Specific Requirement: CFR section 200.403, Factors affecting allowability of costs, states costs must: conform to limitations or exclusions, be accorded consistent treatment, a cost may not be assigned to a Federal award as a direct cost if any other cost incurred for the same purpose in like circumstances has been allocated to the Federal award as an indirect cost and be adequately documented. 2 CFR section 200.405, Allowable costs, states this standard is met if the cost is incurred specifically for the Federal award. 2 CFR section 200.430(i) Standards for Documentation of Personnel Expenses state charges to Federal awards for salaries must be based on records that accurately reflect the work performed and these records must be supported by a system of internal control which provides reasonable assurance that the charges are accurate, allowable, and properly allocated, support the distribution of the employee’s salary or wages among specific activities or cost objectives if the employee works on more than one Federal award a Federal award and non-Federal award and charges for the salaries and wages of nonexempt employees… must be supported by records indicating the total number of hours worked each day. Condition: The Organization did not maintain an effective control environment to ensure costs incurred for expenditures charged to the program were in accordance with contract requirements and applicable cost principles. Records do not provide reasonable assurance that the charges are accurate, allowable, and properly allocated. Records do not appear to support the distribution of the employee’s salary or wages among specific activities or cost objectives if the employee works on more than one Federal award or a Federal award and non-federal activity. Charges for non-exempt employees are not supported by records indicating the total number of hours worked each day. Expenditure details included costs that were allocated to the Federal award but may not have been incurred specifically for the Federal award. These costs included unsupported journal entries and uncategorized expenditures. Additionally, due to lack of budgets for the fiscal year, it was not determinable if costs conformed to limitations or exclusions set forth in the Federal award. Costs were not adequately documented, and it is unknown if costs were accorded consistent treatment. Cause: Factors beyond the control of current management, including poor recordkeeping, have caused financial records to be inadequate for audit purposes, as key members of the accounting department left the Organization before appropriately transferring knowledge and records related to the Federal awards. Effect or Potential Effect: Potential for unallowable activities, unallowable costs, and costs outside of the period of performance and additional questioned costs. Questioned Costs: Related questioned costs related to payroll expenditures are unknown. Questioned costs related to non-payroll expenditures are unknown. Context: During the year under audit, the issues represent a systemic problem, beyond the control of current management. Recommendation: Policies and procedures should be designed and implemented to ensure expenditures are reviewed for allowability before being charged to federal awards. Policies and procedures should be designed and implemented to ensure costs are reviewed for allowability before being charged to federal awards. Management should perform budget to actual analysis on a periodic basis to ensure that costs are not exceeding limitations. View of Responsible Officials: In response to finding number 2021-SA3, management agrees with the finding and will design, implement, and maintain policies and procedures that ensure expenditures are reviewed for allowability before being charged to Federal awards. Management will also design, implement, and maintain policies and procedures that ensure costs are reviewed for allowability before being charged to Federal awards. Further, management will perform budget-to-actual analysis on a periodic basis to ensure costs do not exceed limitations.
Finding Number: 2021-SA3 Material Weakness – Activities Allowed or Unallowed and Allowable Costs/Cost Principles and Period of Performance Compliance and Control Finding Federal Award: No. 64.024 VA Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program Federal Agency: U.S. Veterans Administration Pass-Through Entity: Not applicable Criteria or Specific Requirement: CFR section 200.403, Factors affecting allowability of costs, states costs must: conform to limitations or exclusions, be accorded consistent treatment, a cost may not be assigned to a Federal award as a direct cost if any other cost incurred for the same purpose in like circumstances has been allocated to the Federal award as an indirect cost and be adequately documented. 2 CFR section 200.405, Allowable costs, states this standard is met if the cost is incurred specifically for the Federal award. 2 CFR section 200.430(i) Standards for Documentation of Personnel Expenses state charges to Federal awards for salaries must be based on records that accurately reflect the work performed and these records must be supported by a system of internal control which provides reasonable assurance that the charges are accurate, allowable, and properly allocated, support the distribution of the employee’s salary or wages among specific activities or cost objectives if the employee works on more than one Federal award a Federal award and non-Federal award and charges for the salaries and wages of nonexempt employees… must be supported by records indicating the total number of hours worked each day. Condition: The Organization did not maintain an effective control environment to ensure costs incurred for expenditures charged to the program were in accordance with contract requirements and applicable cost principles. Records do not provide reasonable assurance that the charges are accurate, allowable, and properly allocated. Records do not appear to support the distribution of the employee’s salary or wages among specific activities or cost objectives if the employee works on more than one Federal award or a Federal award and non-federal activity. Charges for non-exempt employees are not supported by records indicating the total number of hours worked each day. Expenditure details included costs that were allocated to the Federal award but may not have been incurred specifically for the Federal award. These costs included unsupported journal entries and uncategorized expenditures. Additionally, due to lack of budgets for the fiscal year, it was not determinable if costs conformed to limitations or exclusions set forth in the Federal award. Costs were not adequately documented, and it is unknown if costs were accorded consistent treatment. Cause: Factors beyond the control of current management, including poor recordkeeping, have caused financial records to be inadequate for audit purposes, as key members of the accounting department left the Organization before appropriately transferring knowledge and records related to the Federal awards. Effect or Potential Effect: Potential for unallowable activities, unallowable costs, and costs outside of the period of performance and additional questioned costs. Questioned Costs: Related questioned costs related to payroll expenditures are unknown. Questioned costs related to non-payroll expenditures are unknown. Context: During the year under audit, the issues represent a systemic problem, beyond the control of current management. Recommendation: Policies and procedures should be designed and implemented to ensure expenditures are reviewed for allowability before being charged to federal awards. Policies and procedures should be designed and implemented to ensure costs are reviewed for allowability before being charged to federal awards. Management should perform budget to actual analysis on a periodic basis to ensure that costs are not exceeding limitations. View of Responsible Officials: In response to finding number 2021-SA3, management agrees with the finding and will design, implement, and maintain policies and procedures that ensure expenditures are reviewed for allowability before being charged to Federal awards. Management will also design, implement, and maintain policies and procedures that ensure costs are reviewed for allowability before being charged to Federal awards. Further, management will perform budget-to-actual analysis on a periodic basis to ensure costs do not exceed limitations.
Finding Number: 2021-SA3 Material Weakness – Activities Allowed or Unallowed and Allowable Costs/Cost Principles and Period of Performance Compliance and Control Finding Federal Award: No. 64.024 VA Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program Federal Agency: U.S. Veterans Administration Pass-Through Entity: Not applicable Criteria or Specific Requirement: CFR section 200.403, Factors affecting allowability of costs, states costs must: conform to limitations or exclusions, be accorded consistent treatment, a cost may not be assigned to a Federal award as a direct cost if any other cost incurred for the same purpose in like circumstances has been allocated to the Federal award as an indirect cost and be adequately documented. 2 CFR section 200.405, Allowable costs, states this standard is met if the cost is incurred specifically for the Federal award. 2 CFR section 200.430(i) Standards for Documentation of Personnel Expenses state charges to Federal awards for salaries must be based on records that accurately reflect the work performed and these records must be supported by a system of internal control which provides reasonable assurance that the charges are accurate, allowable, and properly allocated, support the distribution of the employee’s salary or wages among specific activities or cost objectives if the employee works on more than one Federal award a Federal award and non-Federal award and charges for the salaries and wages of nonexempt employees… must be supported by records indicating the total number of hours worked each day. Condition: The Organization did not maintain an effective control environment to ensure costs incurred for expenditures charged to the program were in accordance with contract requirements and applicable cost principles. Records do not provide reasonable assurance that the charges are accurate, allowable, and properly allocated. Records do not appear to support the distribution of the employee’s salary or wages among specific activities or cost objectives if the employee works on more than one Federal award or a Federal award and non-federal activity. Charges for non-exempt employees are not supported by records indicating the total number of hours worked each day. Expenditure details included costs that were allocated to the Federal award but may not have been incurred specifically for the Federal award. These costs included unsupported journal entries and uncategorized expenditures. Additionally, due to lack of budgets for the fiscal year, it was not determinable if costs conformed to limitations or exclusions set forth in the Federal award. Costs were not adequately documented, and it is unknown if costs were accorded consistent treatment. Cause: Factors beyond the control of current management, including poor recordkeeping, have caused financial records to be inadequate for audit purposes, as key members of the accounting department left the Organization before appropriately transferring knowledge and records related to the Federal awards. Effect or Potential Effect: Potential for unallowable activities, unallowable costs, and costs outside of the period of performance and additional questioned costs. Questioned Costs: Related questioned costs related to payroll expenditures are unknown. Questioned costs related to non-payroll expenditures are unknown. Context: During the year under audit, the issues represent a systemic problem, beyond the control of current management. Recommendation: Policies and procedures should be designed and implemented to ensure expenditures are reviewed for allowability before being charged to federal awards. Policies and procedures should be designed and implemented to ensure costs are reviewed for allowability before being charged to federal awards. Management should perform budget to actual analysis on a periodic basis to ensure that costs are not exceeding limitations. View of Responsible Officials: In response to finding number 2021-SA3, management agrees with the finding and will design, implement, and maintain policies and procedures that ensure expenditures are reviewed for allowability before being charged to Federal awards. Management will also design, implement, and maintain policies and procedures that ensure costs are reviewed for allowability before being charged to Federal awards. Further, management will perform budget-to-actual analysis on a periodic basis to ensure costs do not exceed limitations.
Finding Number: 2021-SA3 Material Weakness – Activities Allowed or Unallowed and Allowable Costs/Cost Principles and Period of Performance Compliance and Control Finding Federal Award: No. 64.024 VA Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program Federal Agency: U.S. Veterans Administration Pass-Through Entity: Not applicable Criteria or Specific Requirement: CFR section 200.403, Factors affecting allowability of costs, states costs must: conform to limitations or exclusions, be accorded consistent treatment, a cost may not be assigned to a Federal award as a direct cost if any other cost incurred for the same purpose in like circumstances has been allocated to the Federal award as an indirect cost and be adequately documented. 2 CFR section 200.405, Allowable costs, states this standard is met if the cost is incurred specifically for the Federal award. 2 CFR section 200.430(i) Standards for Documentation of Personnel Expenses state charges to Federal awards for salaries must be based on records that accurately reflect the work performed and these records must be supported by a system of internal control which provides reasonable assurance that the charges are accurate, allowable, and properly allocated, support the distribution of the employee’s salary or wages among specific activities or cost objectives if the employee works on more than one Federal award a Federal award and non-Federal award and charges for the salaries and wages of nonexempt employees… must be supported by records indicating the total number of hours worked each day. Condition: The Organization did not maintain an effective control environment to ensure costs incurred for expenditures charged to the program were in accordance with contract requirements and applicable cost principles. Records do not provide reasonable assurance that the charges are accurate, allowable, and properly allocated. Records do not appear to support the distribution of the employee’s salary or wages among specific activities or cost objectives if the employee works on more than one Federal award or a Federal award and non-federal activity. Charges for non-exempt employees are not supported by records indicating the total number of hours worked each day. Expenditure details included costs that were allocated to the Federal award but may not have been incurred specifically for the Federal award. These costs included unsupported journal entries and uncategorized expenditures. Additionally, due to lack of budgets for the fiscal year, it was not determinable if costs conformed to limitations or exclusions set forth in the Federal award. Costs were not adequately documented, and it is unknown if costs were accorded consistent treatment. Cause: Factors beyond the control of current management, including poor recordkeeping, have caused financial records to be inadequate for audit purposes, as key members of the accounting department left the Organization before appropriately transferring knowledge and records related to the Federal awards. Effect or Potential Effect: Potential for unallowable activities, unallowable costs, and costs outside of the period of performance and additional questioned costs. Questioned Costs: Related questioned costs related to payroll expenditures are unknown. Questioned costs related to non-payroll expenditures are unknown. Context: During the year under audit, the issues represent a systemic problem, beyond the control of current management. Recommendation: Policies and procedures should be designed and implemented to ensure expenditures are reviewed for allowability before being charged to federal awards. Policies and procedures should be designed and implemented to ensure costs are reviewed for allowability before being charged to federal awards. Management should perform budget to actual analysis on a periodic basis to ensure that costs are not exceeding limitations. View of Responsible Officials: In response to finding number 2021-SA3, management agrees with the finding and will design, implement, and maintain policies and procedures that ensure expenditures are reviewed for allowability before being charged to Federal awards. Management will also design, implement, and maintain policies and procedures that ensure costs are reviewed for allowability before being charged to Federal awards. Further, management will perform budget-to-actual analysis on a periodic basis to ensure costs do not exceed limitations.
Finding Number: 2021-SA3 Material Weakness – Activities Allowed or Unallowed and Allowable Costs/Cost Principles and Period of Performance Compliance and Control Finding Federal Award: No. 64.024 VA Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program Federal Agency: U.S. Veterans Administration Pass-Through Entity: Not applicable Criteria or Specific Requirement: CFR section 200.403, Factors affecting allowability of costs, states costs must: conform to limitations or exclusions, be accorded consistent treatment, a cost may not be assigned to a Federal award as a direct cost if any other cost incurred for the same purpose in like circumstances has been allocated to the Federal award as an indirect cost and be adequately documented. 2 CFR section 200.405, Allowable costs, states this standard is met if the cost is incurred specifically for the Federal award. 2 CFR section 200.430(i) Standards for Documentation of Personnel Expenses state charges to Federal awards for salaries must be based on records that accurately reflect the work performed and these records must be supported by a system of internal control which provides reasonable assurance that the charges are accurate, allowable, and properly allocated, support the distribution of the employee’s salary or wages among specific activities or cost objectives if the employee works on more than one Federal award a Federal award and non-Federal award and charges for the salaries and wages of nonexempt employees… must be supported by records indicating the total number of hours worked each day. Condition: The Organization did not maintain an effective control environment to ensure costs incurred for expenditures charged to the program were in accordance with contract requirements and applicable cost principles. Records do not provide reasonable assurance that the charges are accurate, allowable, and properly allocated. Records do not appear to support the distribution of the employee’s salary or wages among specific activities or cost objectives if the employee works on more than one Federal award or a Federal award and non-federal activity. Charges for non-exempt employees are not supported by records indicating the total number of hours worked each day. Expenditure details included costs that were allocated to the Federal award but may not have been incurred specifically for the Federal award. These costs included unsupported journal entries and uncategorized expenditures. Additionally, due to lack of budgets for the fiscal year, it was not determinable if costs conformed to limitations or exclusions set forth in the Federal award. Costs were not adequately documented, and it is unknown if costs were accorded consistent treatment. Cause: Factors beyond the control of current management, including poor recordkeeping, have caused financial records to be inadequate for audit purposes, as key members of the accounting department left the Organization before appropriately transferring knowledge and records related to the Federal awards. Effect or Potential Effect: Potential for unallowable activities, unallowable costs, and costs outside of the period of performance and additional questioned costs. Questioned Costs: Related questioned costs related to payroll expenditures are unknown. Questioned costs related to non-payroll expenditures are unknown. Context: During the year under audit, the issues represent a systemic problem, beyond the control of current management. Recommendation: Policies and procedures should be designed and implemented to ensure expenditures are reviewed for allowability before being charged to federal awards. Policies and procedures should be designed and implemented to ensure costs are reviewed for allowability before being charged to federal awards. Management should perform budget to actual analysis on a periodic basis to ensure that costs are not exceeding limitations. View of Responsible Officials: In response to finding number 2021-SA3, management agrees with the finding and will design, implement, and maintain policies and procedures that ensure expenditures are reviewed for allowability before being charged to Federal awards. Management will also design, implement, and maintain policies and procedures that ensure costs are reviewed for allowability before being charged to Federal awards. Further, management will perform budget-to-actual analysis on a periodic basis to ensure costs do not exceed limitations.
Finding 2021-006 Payroll Documentation - Activities Allowed and Unallowed, Allowable Costs/Cost Principles – Noncompliance and Material Weakness in Internal Control over Compliance Agency Department of the Treasury ALN 21.019 Program COVID-19 - Coronavirus Relief Fund Award Year FY 2021 Pass-Through Agency State of Alaska Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development Pass-Through Entity Identifying Number 20-CRF-024 Criteria 2 CFR 200.303 requires that non-federal entities receiving federal awards establish and maintain internal control designed to reasonably ensure compliance with federal statutes, regulations, and terms and conditions of the federal award. 2 CFR 200.430 requires that charges to Federal awards for salaries and wages must be based on records that accurately reflect the work performed. Per 2 CFR 200.430, these records must be supported by a system of internal control which provides reasonable assurance that the charges are accurate, allowable, and properly allocated and be incorporated into the official records of the non-Federal entity. Condition During our testing of payroll disbursements, we noted the following exceptions: - 20 out of the 60 expenditures sampled did not have properly maintained personnel action forms signed by the employee. - one out of the 60 expenditures sampled had an employee whose pay rate had decreased; however, no adjustment was made in the payroll system to reflect this decrease. Cause Internal controls were not in place throughout the entire fiscal year to ensure that all personnel action forms were reviewed and signed by the designated individuals and the payroll system is updated to reflect changes in pay rates. Effect or potential effect Federal funds could be expended for unallowed activities and unallowed costs. Questioned costs Below the reporting threshold. Context We tested a sample of 60 payroll transactions totaling to $148,729 from a population of 454 payroll transactions. The total amount of payroll expenditures charged to the program in fiscal year 2021 were $1,220,281. We noted 21 exceptions as noted in the condition. This is a condition identified per review of City's compliance with the specified requirements not using a statistically valid sample. Identification as a repeat finding This is a repeat finding from prior year. This was reported as finding 2020- 005 in the 2020 report. Recommendation Management should ensure the most current personnel action forms are reviewed and signed by the designated personnel. Views of responsible officials Management concurs with the finding. Management will review current employee pay rates within the payroll module and ensure the rates agree to the most current pay rate as specified in the employee’s current personnel action form.
2021-007 Lack of Documentation to Support Distribution of Wages (Significant Deficiency) Federal Agency: Department of Education Pass-through Agency: New Hampshire Department of Education Cluster/Program: Education Stabilization Fund Assistance Listing Numbers: 84.425D Passed-through Identification: #20204815 Compliance Requirement: Activities Allowed or Unallowed and Allowable Costs/Cost Principles Type of Finding: Internal Control over Compliance – Significant Deficiency Criteria or Specific Requirement: Federal regulations 2 CFR 200.303 states, the district, as a recipient of Federal funds, must establish and maintain effective internal controls over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. In addition, under 2 CFR 200.430, it states that charges to federal awards for salaries and wages must be based on records that accurately reflect the work performed. These records must (1) be supported by a system of internal control which provides reasonable assurance that the charges are accurate, allowable, and properly allocated, (2) be incorporated into the official records of the non-Federal entity, (3) reasonably reflect the total activity for which the employee is compensated by the non-Federal entity, not exceeding 100% of compensated activities, and (4) support the distribution of the employee’s salary or wages among specific activities or cost objectives if the employee works on more than one Federal award or a federal award and non-Federal award. Condition: During our review of payroll charged to the grant, we noted one employee who did not have documentation to support the distribution of the employee’s time spent on grant activities. Cause: Administrative oversight. Effect: The District did not have adequate documentation to support the distribution of the employee’s wages paid using grant funds. Questioned Costs: $3,136 Repeat Finding: No Recommendation: We recommend that documentation be retained to support the distribution of salaries and wages for all employees paid using grant funds. Views of Responsible Officials: Management’s views and corrective action plan is included at the end of this report.
Finding #SA2021-002: Support for Payroll Costs Charged to Grant Assistance Listing Number: 20.507 Assistance Listing Title: Federal Transit – Formula Grants (Urbanized Area Formula Program) Name of Federal Agency: Department of Transportation - Federal Transportation Administration Federal Award Identification Number: CA-2021-009-01, CA-2020-005-01, CA-2020-005-02 Criteria: 2 CFR Part 200.430(i), “Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards” requires that grantees adhere to the following, “Payroll systems must be based on records that accurately reflect the work performed” and “be supported by a system of internal controls that provides reasonable assurances that charges are accurate, allowable, and properly allocated...” The payroll records must be a part of the official record, reflect the employee’s total activity and show if the specific activity of the person is being paid by more than one federal award. Section 200.430(i)(viii) indicates that budget estimates (i.e., estimates determined before the services are performed) alone do not qualify as support for charges to Federal awards, but may be used for interim accounting purposes, provided that the system for establishing the estimates produces reasonable approximations of the activity actually performed, among other requirements. Condition: We noted that the payroll costs for one employee were charged to the program based on a flat rate of 25% of the payroll costs, rather than based on the actual hours worked. Payroll costs, including salary and benefits, charged to the program during fiscal year 2021 totaled $8,997. Questioned Costs: We question costs of $8,997, which consists of the payroll and fringe benefits charged to the grant for the employee based on the flat percentage of pay and benefits for the full fiscal year. Effect: The City is not in compliance with the payroll documentation requirements set forth in 2 CFR Part 200.430(i). Cause: We understand that grant program staff were not aware of the payroll documentation requirement and due to staff turnover, Finance staff cannot determine whether any such documentation exists. Identification as a repeat finding: Yes, since 2019 Recommendation: The City should establish procedures to ensure that payroll costs charged to the program are documented in accordance with 2 CFR Part 200.430 for the Federal Transit-Formula Grants program and all federal grant programs. View of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: Please see Corrective Action Plan separately prepared by the City.
Finding #SA2021-003: Pro-Rating Annual Payroll Costs Charged to Grant Assistance Listing Number: 21.019 Assistance Listing Title: COVID-19 - Coronavirus Relief Fund Name of Federal Agency: Department of Treasury Pass Through Entity: California Department of Finance Federal Award Identification Number: 390 Criteria: 2 CFR Part 200.430(i), “Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards” requires that grantees adhere to the following, “Payroll systems must be based on records that accurately reflect the work performed” and “be supported by a system of internal controls that provides reasonable assurances that charges are accurate, allowable, and properly allocated...” The payroll records must be a part of the official record, reflect the employee’s total activity and show if the specific activity of the person is being paid by more than one federal award. Condition: The City charged a portion of three months of police and fire salaries to the Coronavirus Relief Fund program, and we noted one employee’s pay during that time included an annual stipend of $12,333, of which 33% was charged to the federal award, or $4,070. Although the pay was related to the employee’s gross pay under the applicable memorandum of understanding for the period, since it was an annual amount paid during the time charged to the grant, it should have been pro-rated to charge only 25% of the stipend to the federal award. Therefore, only 33% of that 25%, or $1,017 should have been charged to the federal award. After the issue was discovered, we reviewed the other payroll charges for amounts that did not appear to be in line with regular salaries and noted the payroll charges included annual stipends for three employees totaling $35,905 of which 67% was charged to the federal award, or $24,061. Those amounts should have been prorated as noted above, therefore only 67% of 25%, or $6,015 should have been charged to the federal award. And, one employee’s vacation buy back, compensatory time off buy back, furlough used and administrative leave pay totaling $50,679 was charged to the grant, which does not appear to be related to the three-month period of salaries charged to the grant. Questioned Costs: We question costs in the amounts of $3,053, $18,046 and $50,679, for total questioned costs of $68,724. Effect: The City is not in compliance with the payroll documentation requirements set forth in 2 CFR Part 200.430(i). Cause: We understand that City staff compiled the report of eligible public safety payroll costs to be charged to the federal award and did not analyze to see if it included annual pay amounts that should be pro-rated for the time period of salaries charged. Recommendation: The City should establish procedures to ensure that payroll costs charged to the program are pro-rated when the costs cover a time period that is longer than that covered by or being charged to the grant award, to ensure that costs are allocated equitably between federal and non-federal funding sources. In addition, the City should work with the grantor to determine if other eligible public safety payroll costs are allowed to replace the ineligible costs, or if the questioned costs need to be returned to the grantor. View of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: Please see Corrective Action Plan separately prepared by the City.
Finding 2021-003: Activities Allowed or Unallowed - Material Weakness Grantor: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Federal Program Names: Health Center Program Cluster: Health Center Program (Community Health Centers, Migrant Health Centers, Health Care for the Homeless, and Public Housing Primary Care) COVID-19 Health Center Program (Community Health Centers, Migrant Health Centers, Health Care for the Homeless, and Public Housing Primary Care) Grants for New and Expanded Services under the Health Center Program Federal Assistance Listing Numbers: 93.224 and 93.527 Federal Award Identification Number and Year: H80CS26638 - 2020 and 2021, H8DCS35487 - 2020, H8CCS34364 - 2020, H8ECS38373 - 2020, and H8F40829 - 2021 Criteria In accordance with 2 CFR, Part 200.430(i)(1), charges to Federal awards for salaries and wages must be based on records that accurately reflect the actual work performed, which must, among other things: (i) be supported by a system of internal control which provides reasonable assurance that the charges are accurate, allowable, and properly allocated; (ii) be incorporated into the official records of the non-Federal entity; (iii) and reasonably reflect the total activity for which the employee is compensated by the non-Federal entity. Additionally, costs must be adequately documented, as per 2 CFR 200.40.3(g). Condition Charges to Federal Awards for salaries and wages were not supported by properly approved payrates, and timesheets did not agree to payroll registers. Additionally, nonpayroll expenditures were not supported by proper approval. Cause The Center's internal controls over payroll were not consistently followed to ensure payrates were approved and timesheets agreed to payroll registers. Additionally, the Center's internal controls over nonpayroll expenditures were not consistently followed to ensure that expenditures were approved. Effect Failure to ensure accurate wage and allocation of employee's time across programs could result in non-compliance with the grant requirements or unallowable costs being charged. Additionally, failure to ensure accurate nonpayroll expenditures could result in non-compliance with the grant requirements or unallowable costs being charged. Questioned Costs None. Context We selected 25 payroll transactions charged to the federal program for testing. Out of the 25 transactions tested, we noted 21 instances where there was no formal approval of payrates and where they were not appropriately reflected in the payroll registers, 15 instances where timecards were not appropriately reflected in the payroll registers, and all 25 labor reports showed no formal approval documented. Additionally, for nonpayroll allowable costs, out of five transactions tested, we noted five instances where there was no formal approval showing review that the cost was allowable under the program. Identification of Repeat Finding Yes, see finding 2020-003. Recommendation We recommend that the Center consistently enforce its internal controls over payroll to ensure that the timesheet and payrates are reviewed and approved by the appropriate supervisor. Additionally, we recommend that the Center consistently reinforces its internal controls over nonpayroll expenditures to ensure all expenditures were approved by the appropriate supervisor. Views of Responsible Officials Management and the Board of Directors agree with the finding and will implement additional controls to ensure all expenditures have evidence of formal approval of review.
Finding 2021-003: Activities Allowed or Unallowed - Material Weakness Grantor: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Federal Program Names: Health Center Program Cluster: Health Center Program (Community Health Centers, Migrant Health Centers, Health Care for the Homeless, and Public Housing Primary Care) COVID-19 Health Center Program (Community Health Centers, Migrant Health Centers, Health Care for the Homeless, and Public Housing Primary Care) Grants for New and Expanded Services under the Health Center Program Federal Assistance Listing Numbers: 93.224 and 93.527 Federal Award Identification Number and Year: H80CS26638 - 2020 and 2021, H8DCS35487 - 2020, H8CCS34364 - 2020, H8ECS38373 - 2020, and H8F40829 - 2021 Criteria In accordance with 2 CFR, Part 200.430(i)(1), charges to Federal awards for salaries and wages must be based on records that accurately reflect the actual work performed, which must, among other things: (i) be supported by a system of internal control which provides reasonable assurance that the charges are accurate, allowable, and properly allocated; (ii) be incorporated into the official records of the non-Federal entity; (iii) and reasonably reflect the total activity for which the employee is compensated by the non-Federal entity. Additionally, costs must be adequately documented, as per 2 CFR 200.40.3(g). Condition Charges to Federal Awards for salaries and wages were not supported by properly approved payrates, and timesheets did not agree to payroll registers. Additionally, nonpayroll expenditures were not supported by proper approval. Cause The Center's internal controls over payroll were not consistently followed to ensure payrates were approved and timesheets agreed to payroll registers. Additionally, the Center's internal controls over nonpayroll expenditures were not consistently followed to ensure that expenditures were approved. Effect Failure to ensure accurate wage and allocation of employee's time across programs could result in non-compliance with the grant requirements or unallowable costs being charged. Additionally, failure to ensure accurate nonpayroll expenditures could result in non-compliance with the grant requirements or unallowable costs being charged. Questioned Costs None. Context We selected 25 payroll transactions charged to the federal program for testing. Out of the 25 transactions tested, we noted 21 instances where there was no formal approval of payrates and where they were not appropriately reflected in the payroll registers, 15 instances where timecards were not appropriately reflected in the payroll registers, and all 25 labor reports showed no formal approval documented. Additionally, for nonpayroll allowable costs, out of five transactions tested, we noted five instances where there was no formal approval showing review that the cost was allowable under the program. Identification of Repeat Finding Yes, see finding 2020-003. Recommendation We recommend that the Center consistently enforce its internal controls over payroll to ensure that the timesheet and payrates are reviewed and approved by the appropriate supervisor. Additionally, we recommend that the Center consistently reinforces its internal controls over nonpayroll expenditures to ensure all expenditures were approved by the appropriate supervisor. Views of Responsible Officials Management and the Board of Directors agree with the finding and will implement additional controls to ensure all expenditures have evidence of formal approval of review.
Finding 2021-003: Activities Allowed or Unallowed - Material Weakness Grantor: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Federal Program Names: Health Center Program Cluster: Health Center Program (Community Health Centers, Migrant Health Centers, Health Care for the Homeless, and Public Housing Primary Care) COVID-19 Health Center Program (Community Health Centers, Migrant Health Centers, Health Care for the Homeless, and Public Housing Primary Care) Grants for New and Expanded Services under the Health Center Program Federal Assistance Listing Numbers: 93.224 and 93.527 Federal Award Identification Number and Year: H80CS26638 - 2020 and 2021, H8DCS35487 - 2020, H8CCS34364 - 2020, H8ECS38373 - 2020, and H8F40829 - 2021 Criteria In accordance with 2 CFR, Part 200.430(i)(1), charges to Federal awards for salaries and wages must be based on records that accurately reflect the actual work performed, which must, among other things: (i) be supported by a system of internal control which provides reasonable assurance that the charges are accurate, allowable, and properly allocated; (ii) be incorporated into the official records of the non-Federal entity; (iii) and reasonably reflect the total activity for which the employee is compensated by the non-Federal entity. Additionally, costs must be adequately documented, as per 2 CFR 200.40.3(g). Condition Charges to Federal Awards for salaries and wages were not supported by properly approved payrates, and timesheets did not agree to payroll registers. Additionally, nonpayroll expenditures were not supported by proper approval. Cause The Center's internal controls over payroll were not consistently followed to ensure payrates were approved and timesheets agreed to payroll registers. Additionally, the Center's internal controls over nonpayroll expenditures were not consistently followed to ensure that expenditures were approved. Effect Failure to ensure accurate wage and allocation of employee's time across programs could result in non-compliance with the grant requirements or unallowable costs being charged. Additionally, failure to ensure accurate nonpayroll expenditures could result in non-compliance with the grant requirements or unallowable costs being charged. Questioned Costs None. Context We selected 25 payroll transactions charged to the federal program for testing. Out of the 25 transactions tested, we noted 21 instances where there was no formal approval of payrates and where they were not appropriately reflected in the payroll registers, 15 instances where timecards were not appropriately reflected in the payroll registers, and all 25 labor reports showed no formal approval documented. Additionally, for nonpayroll allowable costs, out of five transactions tested, we noted five instances where there was no formal approval showing review that the cost was allowable under the program. Identification of Repeat Finding Yes, see finding 2020-003. Recommendation We recommend that the Center consistently enforce its internal controls over payroll to ensure that the timesheet and payrates are reviewed and approved by the appropriate supervisor. Additionally, we recommend that the Center consistently reinforces its internal controls over nonpayroll expenditures to ensure all expenditures were approved by the appropriate supervisor. Views of Responsible Officials Management and the Board of Directors agree with the finding and will implement additional controls to ensure all expenditures have evidence of formal approval of review.
Finding 2021-003: Activities Allowed or Unallowed - Material Weakness Grantor: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Federal Program Names: Health Center Program Cluster: Health Center Program (Community Health Centers, Migrant Health Centers, Health Care for the Homeless, and Public Housing Primary Care) COVID-19 Health Center Program (Community Health Centers, Migrant Health Centers, Health Care for the Homeless, and Public Housing Primary Care) Grants for New and Expanded Services under the Health Center Program Federal Assistance Listing Numbers: 93.224 and 93.527 Federal Award Identification Number and Year: H80CS26638 - 2020 and 2021, H8DCS35487 - 2020, H8CCS34364 - 2020, H8ECS38373 - 2020, and H8F40829 - 2021 Criteria In accordance with 2 CFR, Part 200.430(i)(1), charges to Federal awards for salaries and wages must be based on records that accurately reflect the actual work performed, which must, among other things: (i) be supported by a system of internal control which provides reasonable assurance that the charges are accurate, allowable, and properly allocated; (ii) be incorporated into the official records of the non-Federal entity; (iii) and reasonably reflect the total activity for which the employee is compensated by the non-Federal entity. Additionally, costs must be adequately documented, as per 2 CFR 200.40.3(g). Condition Charges to Federal Awards for salaries and wages were not supported by properly approved payrates, and timesheets did not agree to payroll registers. Additionally, nonpayroll expenditures were not supported by proper approval. Cause The Center's internal controls over payroll were not consistently followed to ensure payrates were approved and timesheets agreed to payroll registers. Additionally, the Center's internal controls over nonpayroll expenditures were not consistently followed to ensure that expenditures were approved. Effect Failure to ensure accurate wage and allocation of employee's time across programs could result in non-compliance with the grant requirements or unallowable costs being charged. Additionally, failure to ensure accurate nonpayroll expenditures could result in non-compliance with the grant requirements or unallowable costs being charged. Questioned Costs None. Context We selected 25 payroll transactions charged to the federal program for testing. Out of the 25 transactions tested, we noted 21 instances where there was no formal approval of payrates and where they were not appropriately reflected in the payroll registers, 15 instances where timecards were not appropriately reflected in the payroll registers, and all 25 labor reports showed no formal approval documented. Additionally, for nonpayroll allowable costs, out of five transactions tested, we noted five instances where there was no formal approval showing review that the cost was allowable under the program. Identification of Repeat Finding Yes, see finding 2020-003. Recommendation We recommend that the Center consistently enforce its internal controls over payroll to ensure that the timesheet and payrates are reviewed and approved by the appropriate supervisor. Additionally, we recommend that the Center consistently reinforces its internal controls over nonpayroll expenditures to ensure all expenditures were approved by the appropriate supervisor. Views of Responsible Officials Management and the Board of Directors agree with the finding and will implement additional controls to ensure all expenditures have evidence of formal approval of review.
Finding 2021-003: Activities Allowed or Unallowed - Material Weakness Grantor: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Federal Program Names: Health Center Program Cluster: Health Center Program (Community Health Centers, Migrant Health Centers, Health Care for the Homeless, and Public Housing Primary Care) COVID-19 Health Center Program (Community Health Centers, Migrant Health Centers, Health Care for the Homeless, and Public Housing Primary Care) Grants for New and Expanded Services under the Health Center Program Federal Assistance Listing Numbers: 93.224 and 93.527 Federal Award Identification Number and Year: H80CS26638 - 2020 and 2021, H8DCS35487 - 2020, H8CCS34364 - 2020, H8ECS38373 - 2020, and H8F40829 - 2021 Criteria In accordance with 2 CFR, Part 200.430(i)(1), charges to Federal awards for salaries and wages must be based on records that accurately reflect the actual work performed, which must, among other things: (i) be supported by a system of internal control which provides reasonable assurance that the charges are accurate, allowable, and properly allocated; (ii) be incorporated into the official records of the non-Federal entity; (iii) and reasonably reflect the total activity for which the employee is compensated by the non-Federal entity. Additionally, costs must be adequately documented, as per 2 CFR 200.40.3(g). Condition Charges to Federal Awards for salaries and wages were not supported by properly approved payrates, and timesheets did not agree to payroll registers. Additionally, nonpayroll expenditures were not supported by proper approval. Cause The Center's internal controls over payroll were not consistently followed to ensure payrates were approved and timesheets agreed to payroll registers. Additionally, the Center's internal controls over nonpayroll expenditures were not consistently followed to ensure that expenditures were approved. Effect Failure to ensure accurate wage and allocation of employee's time across programs could result in non-compliance with the grant requirements or unallowable costs being charged. Additionally, failure to ensure accurate nonpayroll expenditures could result in non-compliance with the grant requirements or unallowable costs being charged. Questioned Costs None. Context We selected 25 payroll transactions charged to the federal program for testing. Out of the 25 transactions tested, we noted 21 instances where there was no formal approval of payrates and where they were not appropriately reflected in the payroll registers, 15 instances where timecards were not appropriately reflected in the payroll registers, and all 25 labor reports showed no formal approval documented. Additionally, for nonpayroll allowable costs, out of five transactions tested, we noted five instances where there was no formal approval showing review that the cost was allowable under the program. Identification of Repeat Finding Yes, see finding 2020-003. Recommendation We recommend that the Center consistently enforce its internal controls over payroll to ensure that the timesheet and payrates are reviewed and approved by the appropriate supervisor. Additionally, we recommend that the Center consistently reinforces its internal controls over nonpayroll expenditures to ensure all expenditures were approved by the appropriate supervisor. Views of Responsible Officials Management and the Board of Directors agree with the finding and will implement additional controls to ensure all expenditures have evidence of formal approval of review.
Finding 2021-003: Activities Allowed or Unallowed - Material Weakness Grantor: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Federal Program Names: Health Center Program Cluster: Health Center Program (Community Health Centers, Migrant Health Centers, Health Care for the Homeless, and Public Housing Primary Care) COVID-19 Health Center Program (Community Health Centers, Migrant Health Centers, Health Care for the Homeless, and Public Housing Primary Care) Grants for New and Expanded Services under the Health Center Program Federal Assistance Listing Numbers: 93.224 and 93.527 Federal Award Identification Number and Year: H80CS26638 - 2020 and 2021, H8DCS35487 - 2020, H8CCS34364 - 2020, H8ECS38373 - 2020, and H8F40829 - 2021 Criteria In accordance with 2 CFR, Part 200.430(i)(1), charges to Federal awards for salaries and wages must be based on records that accurately reflect the actual work performed, which must, among other things: (i) be supported by a system of internal control which provides reasonable assurance that the charges are accurate, allowable, and properly allocated; (ii) be incorporated into the official records of the non-Federal entity; (iii) and reasonably reflect the total activity for which the employee is compensated by the non-Federal entity. Additionally, costs must be adequately documented, as per 2 CFR 200.40.3(g). Condition Charges to Federal Awards for salaries and wages were not supported by properly approved payrates, and timesheets did not agree to payroll registers. Additionally, nonpayroll expenditures were not supported by proper approval. Cause The Center's internal controls over payroll were not consistently followed to ensure payrates were approved and timesheets agreed to payroll registers. Additionally, the Center's internal controls over nonpayroll expenditures were not consistently followed to ensure that expenditures were approved. Effect Failure to ensure accurate wage and allocation of employee's time across programs could result in non-compliance with the grant requirements or unallowable costs being charged. Additionally, failure to ensure accurate nonpayroll expenditures could result in non-compliance with the grant requirements or unallowable costs being charged. Questioned Costs None. Context We selected 25 payroll transactions charged to the federal program for testing. Out of the 25 transactions tested, we noted 21 instances where there was no formal approval of payrates and where they were not appropriately reflected in the payroll registers, 15 instances where timecards were not appropriately reflected in the payroll registers, and all 25 labor reports showed no formal approval documented. Additionally, for nonpayroll allowable costs, out of five transactions tested, we noted five instances where there was no formal approval showing review that the cost was allowable under the program. Identification of Repeat Finding Yes, see finding 2020-003. Recommendation We recommend that the Center consistently enforce its internal controls over payroll to ensure that the timesheet and payrates are reviewed and approved by the appropriate supervisor. Additionally, we recommend that the Center consistently reinforces its internal controls over nonpayroll expenditures to ensure all expenditures were approved by the appropriate supervisor. Views of Responsible Officials Management and the Board of Directors agree with the finding and will implement additional controls to ensure all expenditures have evidence of formal approval of review.
Finding Number: 2021-SA3 Material Weakness – Activities Allowed or Unallowed and Allowable Costs/Cost Principles and Period of Performance Compliance and Control Finding Federal Award: No. 64.024 VA Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program Federal Agency: U.S. Veterans Administration Pass-Through Entity: Not applicable Criteria or Specific Requirement: CFR section 200.403, Factors affecting allowability of costs, states costs must: conform to limitations or exclusions, be accorded consistent treatment, a cost may not be assigned to a Federal award as a direct cost if any other cost incurred for the same purpose in like circumstances has been allocated to the Federal award as an indirect cost and be adequately documented. 2 CFR section 200.405, Allowable costs, states this standard is met if the cost is incurred specifically for the Federal award. 2 CFR section 200.430(i) Standards for Documentation of Personnel Expenses state charges to Federal awards for salaries must be based on records that accurately reflect the work performed and these records must be supported by a system of internal control which provides reasonable assurance that the charges are accurate, allowable, and properly allocated, support the distribution of the employee’s salary or wages among specific activities or cost objectives if the employee works on more than one Federal award a Federal award and non-Federal award and charges for the salaries and wages of nonexempt employees… must be supported by records indicating the total number of hours worked each day. Condition: The Organization did not maintain an effective control environment to ensure costs incurred for expenditures charged to the program were in accordance with contract requirements and applicable cost principles. Records do not provide reasonable assurance that the charges are accurate, allowable, and properly allocated. Records do not appear to support the distribution of the employee’s salary or wages among specific activities or cost objectives if the employee works on more than one Federal award or a Federal award and non-federal activity. Charges for non-exempt employees are not supported by records indicating the total number of hours worked each day. Expenditure details included costs that were allocated to the Federal award but may not have been incurred specifically for the Federal award. These costs included unsupported journal entries and uncategorized expenditures. Additionally, due to lack of budgets for the fiscal year, it was not determinable if costs conformed to limitations or exclusions set forth in the Federal award. Costs were not adequately documented, and it is unknown if costs were accorded consistent treatment. Cause: Factors beyond the control of current management, including poor recordkeeping, have caused financial records to be inadequate for audit purposes, as key members of the accounting department left the Organization before appropriately transferring knowledge and records related to the Federal awards. Effect or Potential Effect: Potential for unallowable activities, unallowable costs, and costs outside of the period of performance and additional questioned costs. Questioned Costs: Related questioned costs related to payroll expenditures are unknown. Questioned costs related to non-payroll expenditures are unknown. Context: During the year under audit, the issues represent a systemic problem, beyond the control of current management. Recommendation: Policies and procedures should be designed and implemented to ensure expenditures are reviewed for allowability before being charged to federal awards. Policies and procedures should be designed and implemented to ensure costs are reviewed for allowability before being charged to federal awards. Management should perform budget to actual analysis on a periodic basis to ensure that costs are not exceeding limitations. View of Responsible Officials: In response to finding number 2021-SA3, management agrees with the finding and will design, implement, and maintain policies and procedures that ensure expenditures are reviewed for allowability before being charged to Federal awards. Management will also design, implement, and maintain policies and procedures that ensure costs are reviewed for allowability before being charged to Federal awards. Further, management will perform budget-to-actual analysis on a periodic basis to ensure costs do not exceed limitations.
Finding Number: 2021-SA3 Material Weakness – Activities Allowed or Unallowed and Allowable Costs/Cost Principles and Period of Performance Compliance and Control Finding Federal Award: No. 64.024 VA Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program Federal Agency: U.S. Veterans Administration Pass-Through Entity: Not applicable Criteria or Specific Requirement: CFR section 200.403, Factors affecting allowability of costs, states costs must: conform to limitations or exclusions, be accorded consistent treatment, a cost may not be assigned to a Federal award as a direct cost if any other cost incurred for the same purpose in like circumstances has been allocated to the Federal award as an indirect cost and be adequately documented. 2 CFR section 200.405, Allowable costs, states this standard is met if the cost is incurred specifically for the Federal award. 2 CFR section 200.430(i) Standards for Documentation of Personnel Expenses state charges to Federal awards for salaries must be based on records that accurately reflect the work performed and these records must be supported by a system of internal control which provides reasonable assurance that the charges are accurate, allowable, and properly allocated, support the distribution of the employee’s salary or wages among specific activities or cost objectives if the employee works on more than one Federal award a Federal award and non-Federal award and charges for the salaries and wages of nonexempt employees… must be supported by records indicating the total number of hours worked each day. Condition: The Organization did not maintain an effective control environment to ensure costs incurred for expenditures charged to the program were in accordance with contract requirements and applicable cost principles. Records do not provide reasonable assurance that the charges are accurate, allowable, and properly allocated. Records do not appear to support the distribution of the employee’s salary or wages among specific activities or cost objectives if the employee works on more than one Federal award or a Federal award and non-federal activity. Charges for non-exempt employees are not supported by records indicating the total number of hours worked each day. Expenditure details included costs that were allocated to the Federal award but may not have been incurred specifically for the Federal award. These costs included unsupported journal entries and uncategorized expenditures. Additionally, due to lack of budgets for the fiscal year, it was not determinable if costs conformed to limitations or exclusions set forth in the Federal award. Costs were not adequately documented, and it is unknown if costs were accorded consistent treatment. Cause: Factors beyond the control of current management, including poor recordkeeping, have caused financial records to be inadequate for audit purposes, as key members of the accounting department left the Organization before appropriately transferring knowledge and records related to the Federal awards. Effect or Potential Effect: Potential for unallowable activities, unallowable costs, and costs outside of the period of performance and additional questioned costs. Questioned Costs: Related questioned costs related to payroll expenditures are unknown. Questioned costs related to non-payroll expenditures are unknown. Context: During the year under audit, the issues represent a systemic problem, beyond the control of current management. Recommendation: Policies and procedures should be designed and implemented to ensure expenditures are reviewed for allowability before being charged to federal awards. Policies and procedures should be designed and implemented to ensure costs are reviewed for allowability before being charged to federal awards. Management should perform budget to actual analysis on a periodic basis to ensure that costs are not exceeding limitations. View of Responsible Officials: In response to finding number 2021-SA3, management agrees with the finding and will design, implement, and maintain policies and procedures that ensure expenditures are reviewed for allowability before being charged to Federal awards. Management will also design, implement, and maintain policies and procedures that ensure costs are reviewed for allowability before being charged to Federal awards. Further, management will perform budget-to-actual analysis on a periodic basis to ensure costs do not exceed limitations.
Finding Number: 2021-SA3 Material Weakness – Activities Allowed or Unallowed and Allowable Costs/Cost Principles and Period of Performance Compliance and Control Finding Federal Award: No. 64.024 VA Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program Federal Agency: U.S. Veterans Administration Pass-Through Entity: Not applicable Criteria or Specific Requirement: CFR section 200.403, Factors affecting allowability of costs, states costs must: conform to limitations or exclusions, be accorded consistent treatment, a cost may not be assigned to a Federal award as a direct cost if any other cost incurred for the same purpose in like circumstances has been allocated to the Federal award as an indirect cost and be adequately documented. 2 CFR section 200.405, Allowable costs, states this standard is met if the cost is incurred specifically for the Federal award. 2 CFR section 200.430(i) Standards for Documentation of Personnel Expenses state charges to Federal awards for salaries must be based on records that accurately reflect the work performed and these records must be supported by a system of internal control which provides reasonable assurance that the charges are accurate, allowable, and properly allocated, support the distribution of the employee’s salary or wages among specific activities or cost objectives if the employee works on more than one Federal award a Federal award and non-Federal award and charges for the salaries and wages of nonexempt employees… must be supported by records indicating the total number of hours worked each day. Condition: The Organization did not maintain an effective control environment to ensure costs incurred for expenditures charged to the program were in accordance with contract requirements and applicable cost principles. Records do not provide reasonable assurance that the charges are accurate, allowable, and properly allocated. Records do not appear to support the distribution of the employee’s salary or wages among specific activities or cost objectives if the employee works on more than one Federal award or a Federal award and non-federal activity. Charges for non-exempt employees are not supported by records indicating the total number of hours worked each day. Expenditure details included costs that were allocated to the Federal award but may not have been incurred specifically for the Federal award. These costs included unsupported journal entries and uncategorized expenditures. Additionally, due to lack of budgets for the fiscal year, it was not determinable if costs conformed to limitations or exclusions set forth in the Federal award. Costs were not adequately documented, and it is unknown if costs were accorded consistent treatment. Cause: Factors beyond the control of current management, including poor recordkeeping, have caused financial records to be inadequate for audit purposes, as key members of the accounting department left the Organization before appropriately transferring knowledge and records related to the Federal awards. Effect or Potential Effect: Potential for unallowable activities, unallowable costs, and costs outside of the period of performance and additional questioned costs. Questioned Costs: Related questioned costs related to payroll expenditures are unknown. Questioned costs related to non-payroll expenditures are unknown. Context: During the year under audit, the issues represent a systemic problem, beyond the control of current management. Recommendation: Policies and procedures should be designed and implemented to ensure expenditures are reviewed for allowability before being charged to federal awards. Policies and procedures should be designed and implemented to ensure costs are reviewed for allowability before being charged to federal awards. Management should perform budget to actual analysis on a periodic basis to ensure that costs are not exceeding limitations. View of Responsible Officials: In response to finding number 2021-SA3, management agrees with the finding and will design, implement, and maintain policies and procedures that ensure expenditures are reviewed for allowability before being charged to Federal awards. Management will also design, implement, and maintain policies and procedures that ensure costs are reviewed for allowability before being charged to Federal awards. Further, management will perform budget-to-actual analysis on a periodic basis to ensure costs do not exceed limitations.
Finding Number: 2021-SA3 Material Weakness – Activities Allowed or Unallowed and Allowable Costs/Cost Principles and Period of Performance Compliance and Control Finding Federal Award: No. 64.024 VA Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program Federal Agency: U.S. Veterans Administration Pass-Through Entity: Not applicable Criteria or Specific Requirement: CFR section 200.403, Factors affecting allowability of costs, states costs must: conform to limitations or exclusions, be accorded consistent treatment, a cost may not be assigned to a Federal award as a direct cost if any other cost incurred for the same purpose in like circumstances has been allocated to the Federal award as an indirect cost and be adequately documented. 2 CFR section 200.405, Allowable costs, states this standard is met if the cost is incurred specifically for the Federal award. 2 CFR section 200.430(i) Standards for Documentation of Personnel Expenses state charges to Federal awards for salaries must be based on records that accurately reflect the work performed and these records must be supported by a system of internal control which provides reasonable assurance that the charges are accurate, allowable, and properly allocated, support the distribution of the employee’s salary or wages among specific activities or cost objectives if the employee works on more than one Federal award a Federal award and non-Federal award and charges for the salaries and wages of nonexempt employees… must be supported by records indicating the total number of hours worked each day. Condition: The Organization did not maintain an effective control environment to ensure costs incurred for expenditures charged to the program were in accordance with contract requirements and applicable cost principles. Records do not provide reasonable assurance that the charges are accurate, allowable, and properly allocated. Records do not appear to support the distribution of the employee’s salary or wages among specific activities or cost objectives if the employee works on more than one Federal award or a Federal award and non-federal activity. Charges for non-exempt employees are not supported by records indicating the total number of hours worked each day. Expenditure details included costs that were allocated to the Federal award but may not have been incurred specifically for the Federal award. These costs included unsupported journal entries and uncategorized expenditures. Additionally, due to lack of budgets for the fiscal year, it was not determinable if costs conformed to limitations or exclusions set forth in the Federal award. Costs were not adequately documented, and it is unknown if costs were accorded consistent treatment. Cause: Factors beyond the control of current management, including poor recordkeeping, have caused financial records to be inadequate for audit purposes, as key members of the accounting department left the Organization before appropriately transferring knowledge and records related to the Federal awards. Effect or Potential Effect: Potential for unallowable activities, unallowable costs, and costs outside of the period of performance and additional questioned costs. Questioned Costs: Related questioned costs related to payroll expenditures are unknown. Questioned costs related to non-payroll expenditures are unknown. Context: During the year under audit, the issues represent a systemic problem, beyond the control of current management. Recommendation: Policies and procedures should be designed and implemented to ensure expenditures are reviewed for allowability before being charged to federal awards. Policies and procedures should be designed and implemented to ensure costs are reviewed for allowability before being charged to federal awards. Management should perform budget to actual analysis on a periodic basis to ensure that costs are not exceeding limitations. View of Responsible Officials: In response to finding number 2021-SA3, management agrees with the finding and will design, implement, and maintain policies and procedures that ensure expenditures are reviewed for allowability before being charged to Federal awards. Management will also design, implement, and maintain policies and procedures that ensure costs are reviewed for allowability before being charged to Federal awards. Further, management will perform budget-to-actual analysis on a periodic basis to ensure costs do not exceed limitations.
Finding Number: 2021-SA3 Material Weakness – Activities Allowed or Unallowed and Allowable Costs/Cost Principles and Period of Performance Compliance and Control Finding Federal Award: No. 64.024 VA Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program Federal Agency: U.S. Veterans Administration Pass-Through Entity: Not applicable Criteria or Specific Requirement: CFR section 200.403, Factors affecting allowability of costs, states costs must: conform to limitations or exclusions, be accorded consistent treatment, a cost may not be assigned to a Federal award as a direct cost if any other cost incurred for the same purpose in like circumstances has been allocated to the Federal award as an indirect cost and be adequately documented. 2 CFR section 200.405, Allowable costs, states this standard is met if the cost is incurred specifically for the Federal award. 2 CFR section 200.430(i) Standards for Documentation of Personnel Expenses state charges to Federal awards for salaries must be based on records that accurately reflect the work performed and these records must be supported by a system of internal control which provides reasonable assurance that the charges are accurate, allowable, and properly allocated, support the distribution of the employee’s salary or wages among specific activities or cost objectives if the employee works on more than one Federal award a Federal award and non-Federal award and charges for the salaries and wages of nonexempt employees… must be supported by records indicating the total number of hours worked each day. Condition: The Organization did not maintain an effective control environment to ensure costs incurred for expenditures charged to the program were in accordance with contract requirements and applicable cost principles. Records do not provide reasonable assurance that the charges are accurate, allowable, and properly allocated. Records do not appear to support the distribution of the employee’s salary or wages among specific activities or cost objectives if the employee works on more than one Federal award or a Federal award and non-federal activity. Charges for non-exempt employees are not supported by records indicating the total number of hours worked each day. Expenditure details included costs that were allocated to the Federal award but may not have been incurred specifically for the Federal award. These costs included unsupported journal entries and uncategorized expenditures. Additionally, due to lack of budgets for the fiscal year, it was not determinable if costs conformed to limitations or exclusions set forth in the Federal award. Costs were not adequately documented, and it is unknown if costs were accorded consistent treatment. Cause: Factors beyond the control of current management, including poor recordkeeping, have caused financial records to be inadequate for audit purposes, as key members of the accounting department left the Organization before appropriately transferring knowledge and records related to the Federal awards. Effect or Potential Effect: Potential for unallowable activities, unallowable costs, and costs outside of the period of performance and additional questioned costs. Questioned Costs: Related questioned costs related to payroll expenditures are unknown. Questioned costs related to non-payroll expenditures are unknown. Context: During the year under audit, the issues represent a systemic problem, beyond the control of current management. Recommendation: Policies and procedures should be designed and implemented to ensure expenditures are reviewed for allowability before being charged to federal awards. Policies and procedures should be designed and implemented to ensure costs are reviewed for allowability before being charged to federal awards. Management should perform budget to actual analysis on a periodic basis to ensure that costs are not exceeding limitations. View of Responsible Officials: In response to finding number 2021-SA3, management agrees with the finding and will design, implement, and maintain policies and procedures that ensure expenditures are reviewed for allowability before being charged to Federal awards. Management will also design, implement, and maintain policies and procedures that ensure costs are reviewed for allowability before being charged to Federal awards. Further, management will perform budget-to-actual analysis on a periodic basis to ensure costs do not exceed limitations.
Finding Number: 2021-SA3 Material Weakness – Activities Allowed or Unallowed and Allowable Costs/Cost Principles and Period of Performance Compliance and Control Finding Federal Award: No. 64.024 VA Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program Federal Agency: U.S. Veterans Administration Pass-Through Entity: Not applicable Criteria or Specific Requirement: CFR section 200.403, Factors affecting allowability of costs, states costs must: conform to limitations or exclusions, be accorded consistent treatment, a cost may not be assigned to a Federal award as a direct cost if any other cost incurred for the same purpose in like circumstances has been allocated to the Federal award as an indirect cost and be adequately documented. 2 CFR section 200.405, Allowable costs, states this standard is met if the cost is incurred specifically for the Federal award. 2 CFR section 200.430(i) Standards for Documentation of Personnel Expenses state charges to Federal awards for salaries must be based on records that accurately reflect the work performed and these records must be supported by a system of internal control which provides reasonable assurance that the charges are accurate, allowable, and properly allocated, support the distribution of the employee’s salary or wages among specific activities or cost objectives if the employee works on more than one Federal award a Federal award and non-Federal award and charges for the salaries and wages of nonexempt employees… must be supported by records indicating the total number of hours worked each day. Condition: The Organization did not maintain an effective control environment to ensure costs incurred for expenditures charged to the program were in accordance with contract requirements and applicable cost principles. Records do not provide reasonable assurance that the charges are accurate, allowable, and properly allocated. Records do not appear to support the distribution of the employee’s salary or wages among specific activities or cost objectives if the employee works on more than one Federal award or a Federal award and non-federal activity. Charges for non-exempt employees are not supported by records indicating the total number of hours worked each day. Expenditure details included costs that were allocated to the Federal award but may not have been incurred specifically for the Federal award. These costs included unsupported journal entries and uncategorized expenditures. Additionally, due to lack of budgets for the fiscal year, it was not determinable if costs conformed to limitations or exclusions set forth in the Federal award. Costs were not adequately documented, and it is unknown if costs were accorded consistent treatment. Cause: Factors beyond the control of current management, including poor recordkeeping, have caused financial records to be inadequate for audit purposes, as key members of the accounting department left the Organization before appropriately transferring knowledge and records related to the Federal awards. Effect or Potential Effect: Potential for unallowable activities, unallowable costs, and costs outside of the period of performance and additional questioned costs. Questioned Costs: Related questioned costs related to payroll expenditures are unknown. Questioned costs related to non-payroll expenditures are unknown. Context: During the year under audit, the issues represent a systemic problem, beyond the control of current management. Recommendation: Policies and procedures should be designed and implemented to ensure expenditures are reviewed for allowability before being charged to federal awards. Policies and procedures should be designed and implemented to ensure costs are reviewed for allowability before being charged to federal awards. Management should perform budget to actual analysis on a periodic basis to ensure that costs are not exceeding limitations. View of Responsible Officials: In response to finding number 2021-SA3, management agrees with the finding and will design, implement, and maintain policies and procedures that ensure expenditures are reviewed for allowability before being charged to Federal awards. Management will also design, implement, and maintain policies and procedures that ensure costs are reviewed for allowability before being charged to Federal awards. Further, management will perform budget-to-actual analysis on a periodic basis to ensure costs do not exceed limitations.
Finding 2021-006 Payroll Documentation - Activities Allowed and Unallowed, Allowable Costs/Cost Principles – Noncompliance and Material Weakness in Internal Control over Compliance Agency Department of the Treasury ALN 21.019 Program COVID-19 - Coronavirus Relief Fund Award Year FY 2021 Pass-Through Agency State of Alaska Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development Pass-Through Entity Identifying Number 20-CRF-024 Criteria 2 CFR 200.303 requires that non-federal entities receiving federal awards establish and maintain internal control designed to reasonably ensure compliance with federal statutes, regulations, and terms and conditions of the federal award. 2 CFR 200.430 requires that charges to Federal awards for salaries and wages must be based on records that accurately reflect the work performed. Per 2 CFR 200.430, these records must be supported by a system of internal control which provides reasonable assurance that the charges are accurate, allowable, and properly allocated and be incorporated into the official records of the non-Federal entity. Condition During our testing of payroll disbursements, we noted the following exceptions: - 20 out of the 60 expenditures sampled did not have properly maintained personnel action forms signed by the employee. - one out of the 60 expenditures sampled had an employee whose pay rate had decreased; however, no adjustment was made in the payroll system to reflect this decrease. Cause Internal controls were not in place throughout the entire fiscal year to ensure that all personnel action forms were reviewed and signed by the designated individuals and the payroll system is updated to reflect changes in pay rates. Effect or potential effect Federal funds could be expended for unallowed activities and unallowed costs. Questioned costs Below the reporting threshold. Context We tested a sample of 60 payroll transactions totaling to $148,729 from a population of 454 payroll transactions. The total amount of payroll expenditures charged to the program in fiscal year 2021 were $1,220,281. We noted 21 exceptions as noted in the condition. This is a condition identified per review of City's compliance with the specified requirements not using a statistically valid sample. Identification as a repeat finding This is a repeat finding from prior year. This was reported as finding 2020- 005 in the 2020 report. Recommendation Management should ensure the most current personnel action forms are reviewed and signed by the designated personnel. Views of responsible officials Management concurs with the finding. Management will review current employee pay rates within the payroll module and ensure the rates agree to the most current pay rate as specified in the employee’s current personnel action form.
2021-007 Lack of Documentation to Support Distribution of Wages (Significant Deficiency) Federal Agency: Department of Education Pass-through Agency: New Hampshire Department of Education Cluster/Program: Education Stabilization Fund Assistance Listing Numbers: 84.425D Passed-through Identification: #20204815 Compliance Requirement: Activities Allowed or Unallowed and Allowable Costs/Cost Principles Type of Finding: Internal Control over Compliance – Significant Deficiency Criteria or Specific Requirement: Federal regulations 2 CFR 200.303 states, the district, as a recipient of Federal funds, must establish and maintain effective internal controls over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. In addition, under 2 CFR 200.430, it states that charges to federal awards for salaries and wages must be based on records that accurately reflect the work performed. These records must (1) be supported by a system of internal control which provides reasonable assurance that the charges are accurate, allowable, and properly allocated, (2) be incorporated into the official records of the non-Federal entity, (3) reasonably reflect the total activity for which the employee is compensated by the non-Federal entity, not exceeding 100% of compensated activities, and (4) support the distribution of the employee’s salary or wages among specific activities or cost objectives if the employee works on more than one Federal award or a federal award and non-Federal award. Condition: During our review of payroll charged to the grant, we noted one employee who did not have documentation to support the distribution of the employee’s time spent on grant activities. Cause: Administrative oversight. Effect: The District did not have adequate documentation to support the distribution of the employee’s wages paid using grant funds. Questioned Costs: $3,136 Repeat Finding: No Recommendation: We recommend that documentation be retained to support the distribution of salaries and wages for all employees paid using grant funds. Views of Responsible Officials: Management’s views and corrective action plan is included at the end of this report.
Finding #SA2021-002: Support for Payroll Costs Charged to Grant Assistance Listing Number: 20.507 Assistance Listing Title: Federal Transit – Formula Grants (Urbanized Area Formula Program) Name of Federal Agency: Department of Transportation - Federal Transportation Administration Federal Award Identification Number: CA-2021-009-01, CA-2020-005-01, CA-2020-005-02 Criteria: 2 CFR Part 200.430(i), “Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards” requires that grantees adhere to the following, “Payroll systems must be based on records that accurately reflect the work performed” and “be supported by a system of internal controls that provides reasonable assurances that charges are accurate, allowable, and properly allocated...” The payroll records must be a part of the official record, reflect the employee’s total activity and show if the specific activity of the person is being paid by more than one federal award. Section 200.430(i)(viii) indicates that budget estimates (i.e., estimates determined before the services are performed) alone do not qualify as support for charges to Federal awards, but may be used for interim accounting purposes, provided that the system for establishing the estimates produces reasonable approximations of the activity actually performed, among other requirements. Condition: We noted that the payroll costs for one employee were charged to the program based on a flat rate of 25% of the payroll costs, rather than based on the actual hours worked. Payroll costs, including salary and benefits, charged to the program during fiscal year 2021 totaled $8,997. Questioned Costs: We question costs of $8,997, which consists of the payroll and fringe benefits charged to the grant for the employee based on the flat percentage of pay and benefits for the full fiscal year. Effect: The City is not in compliance with the payroll documentation requirements set forth in 2 CFR Part 200.430(i). Cause: We understand that grant program staff were not aware of the payroll documentation requirement and due to staff turnover, Finance staff cannot determine whether any such documentation exists. Identification as a repeat finding: Yes, since 2019 Recommendation: The City should establish procedures to ensure that payroll costs charged to the program are documented in accordance with 2 CFR Part 200.430 for the Federal Transit-Formula Grants program and all federal grant programs. View of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: Please see Corrective Action Plan separately prepared by the City.
Finding #SA2021-003: Pro-Rating Annual Payroll Costs Charged to Grant Assistance Listing Number: 21.019 Assistance Listing Title: COVID-19 - Coronavirus Relief Fund Name of Federal Agency: Department of Treasury Pass Through Entity: California Department of Finance Federal Award Identification Number: 390 Criteria: 2 CFR Part 200.430(i), “Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards” requires that grantees adhere to the following, “Payroll systems must be based on records that accurately reflect the work performed” and “be supported by a system of internal controls that provides reasonable assurances that charges are accurate, allowable, and properly allocated...” The payroll records must be a part of the official record, reflect the employee’s total activity and show if the specific activity of the person is being paid by more than one federal award. Condition: The City charged a portion of three months of police and fire salaries to the Coronavirus Relief Fund program, and we noted one employee’s pay during that time included an annual stipend of $12,333, of which 33% was charged to the federal award, or $4,070. Although the pay was related to the employee’s gross pay under the applicable memorandum of understanding for the period, since it was an annual amount paid during the time charged to the grant, it should have been pro-rated to charge only 25% of the stipend to the federal award. Therefore, only 33% of that 25%, or $1,017 should have been charged to the federal award. After the issue was discovered, we reviewed the other payroll charges for amounts that did not appear to be in line with regular salaries and noted the payroll charges included annual stipends for three employees totaling $35,905 of which 67% was charged to the federal award, or $24,061. Those amounts should have been prorated as noted above, therefore only 67% of 25%, or $6,015 should have been charged to the federal award. And, one employee’s vacation buy back, compensatory time off buy back, furlough used and administrative leave pay totaling $50,679 was charged to the grant, which does not appear to be related to the three-month period of salaries charged to the grant. Questioned Costs: We question costs in the amounts of $3,053, $18,046 and $50,679, for total questioned costs of $68,724. Effect: The City is not in compliance with the payroll documentation requirements set forth in 2 CFR Part 200.430(i). Cause: We understand that City staff compiled the report of eligible public safety payroll costs to be charged to the federal award and did not analyze to see if it included annual pay amounts that should be pro-rated for the time period of salaries charged. Recommendation: The City should establish procedures to ensure that payroll costs charged to the program are pro-rated when the costs cover a time period that is longer than that covered by or being charged to the grant award, to ensure that costs are allocated equitably between federal and non-federal funding sources. In addition, the City should work with the grantor to determine if other eligible public safety payroll costs are allowed to replace the ineligible costs, or if the questioned costs need to be returned to the grantor. View of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: Please see Corrective Action Plan separately prepared by the City.
Finding 2021-003: Activities Allowed or Unallowed - Material Weakness Grantor: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Federal Program Names: Health Center Program Cluster: Health Center Program (Community Health Centers, Migrant Health Centers, Health Care for the Homeless, and Public Housing Primary Care) COVID-19 Health Center Program (Community Health Centers, Migrant Health Centers, Health Care for the Homeless, and Public Housing Primary Care) Grants for New and Expanded Services under the Health Center Program Federal Assistance Listing Numbers: 93.224 and 93.527 Federal Award Identification Number and Year: H80CS26638 - 2020 and 2021, H8DCS35487 - 2020, H8CCS34364 - 2020, H8ECS38373 - 2020, and H8F40829 - 2021 Criteria In accordance with 2 CFR, Part 200.430(i)(1), charges to Federal awards for salaries and wages must be based on records that accurately reflect the actual work performed, which must, among other things: (i) be supported by a system of internal control which provides reasonable assurance that the charges are accurate, allowable, and properly allocated; (ii) be incorporated into the official records of the non-Federal entity; (iii) and reasonably reflect the total activity for which the employee is compensated by the non-Federal entity. Additionally, costs must be adequately documented, as per 2 CFR 200.40.3(g). Condition Charges to Federal Awards for salaries and wages were not supported by properly approved payrates, and timesheets did not agree to payroll registers. Additionally, nonpayroll expenditures were not supported by proper approval. Cause The Center's internal controls over payroll were not consistently followed to ensure payrates were approved and timesheets agreed to payroll registers. Additionally, the Center's internal controls over nonpayroll expenditures were not consistently followed to ensure that expenditures were approved. Effect Failure to ensure accurate wage and allocation of employee's time across programs could result in non-compliance with the grant requirements or unallowable costs being charged. Additionally, failure to ensure accurate nonpayroll expenditures could result in non-compliance with the grant requirements or unallowable costs being charged. Questioned Costs None. Context We selected 25 payroll transactions charged to the federal program for testing. Out of the 25 transactions tested, we noted 21 instances where there was no formal approval of payrates and where they were not appropriately reflected in the payroll registers, 15 instances where timecards were not appropriately reflected in the payroll registers, and all 25 labor reports showed no formal approval documented. Additionally, for nonpayroll allowable costs, out of five transactions tested, we noted five instances where there was no formal approval showing review that the cost was allowable under the program. Identification of Repeat Finding Yes, see finding 2020-003. Recommendation We recommend that the Center consistently enforce its internal controls over payroll to ensure that the timesheet and payrates are reviewed and approved by the appropriate supervisor. Additionally, we recommend that the Center consistently reinforces its internal controls over nonpayroll expenditures to ensure all expenditures were approved by the appropriate supervisor. Views of Responsible Officials Management and the Board of Directors agree with the finding and will implement additional controls to ensure all expenditures have evidence of formal approval of review.
Finding 2021-003: Activities Allowed or Unallowed - Material Weakness Grantor: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Federal Program Names: Health Center Program Cluster: Health Center Program (Community Health Centers, Migrant Health Centers, Health Care for the Homeless, and Public Housing Primary Care) COVID-19 Health Center Program (Community Health Centers, Migrant Health Centers, Health Care for the Homeless, and Public Housing Primary Care) Grants for New and Expanded Services under the Health Center Program Federal Assistance Listing Numbers: 93.224 and 93.527 Federal Award Identification Number and Year: H80CS26638 - 2020 and 2021, H8DCS35487 - 2020, H8CCS34364 - 2020, H8ECS38373 - 2020, and H8F40829 - 2021 Criteria In accordance with 2 CFR, Part 200.430(i)(1), charges to Federal awards for salaries and wages must be based on records that accurately reflect the actual work performed, which must, among other things: (i) be supported by a system of internal control which provides reasonable assurance that the charges are accurate, allowable, and properly allocated; (ii) be incorporated into the official records of the non-Federal entity; (iii) and reasonably reflect the total activity for which the employee is compensated by the non-Federal entity. Additionally, costs must be adequately documented, as per 2 CFR 200.40.3(g). Condition Charges to Federal Awards for salaries and wages were not supported by properly approved payrates, and timesheets did not agree to payroll registers. Additionally, nonpayroll expenditures were not supported by proper approval. Cause The Center's internal controls over payroll were not consistently followed to ensure payrates were approved and timesheets agreed to payroll registers. Additionally, the Center's internal controls over nonpayroll expenditures were not consistently followed to ensure that expenditures were approved. Effect Failure to ensure accurate wage and allocation of employee's time across programs could result in non-compliance with the grant requirements or unallowable costs being charged. Additionally, failure to ensure accurate nonpayroll expenditures could result in non-compliance with the grant requirements or unallowable costs being charged. Questioned Costs None. Context We selected 25 payroll transactions charged to the federal program for testing. Out of the 25 transactions tested, we noted 21 instances where there was no formal approval of payrates and where they were not appropriately reflected in the payroll registers, 15 instances where timecards were not appropriately reflected in the payroll registers, and all 25 labor reports showed no formal approval documented. Additionally, for nonpayroll allowable costs, out of five transactions tested, we noted five instances where there was no formal approval showing review that the cost was allowable under the program. Identification of Repeat Finding Yes, see finding 2020-003. Recommendation We recommend that the Center consistently enforce its internal controls over payroll to ensure that the timesheet and payrates are reviewed and approved by the appropriate supervisor. Additionally, we recommend that the Center consistently reinforces its internal controls over nonpayroll expenditures to ensure all expenditures were approved by the appropriate supervisor. Views of Responsible Officials Management and the Board of Directors agree with the finding and will implement additional controls to ensure all expenditures have evidence of formal approval of review.
Finding 2021-003: Activities Allowed or Unallowed - Material Weakness Grantor: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Federal Program Names: Health Center Program Cluster: Health Center Program (Community Health Centers, Migrant Health Centers, Health Care for the Homeless, and Public Housing Primary Care) COVID-19 Health Center Program (Community Health Centers, Migrant Health Centers, Health Care for the Homeless, and Public Housing Primary Care) Grants for New and Expanded Services under the Health Center Program Federal Assistance Listing Numbers: 93.224 and 93.527 Federal Award Identification Number and Year: H80CS26638 - 2020 and 2021, H8DCS35487 - 2020, H8CCS34364 - 2020, H8ECS38373 - 2020, and H8F40829 - 2021 Criteria In accordance with 2 CFR, Part 200.430(i)(1), charges to Federal awards for salaries and wages must be based on records that accurately reflect the actual work performed, which must, among other things: (i) be supported by a system of internal control which provides reasonable assurance that the charges are accurate, allowable, and properly allocated; (ii) be incorporated into the official records of the non-Federal entity; (iii) and reasonably reflect the total activity for which the employee is compensated by the non-Federal entity. Additionally, costs must be adequately documented, as per 2 CFR 200.40.3(g). Condition Charges to Federal Awards for salaries and wages were not supported by properly approved payrates, and timesheets did not agree to payroll registers. Additionally, nonpayroll expenditures were not supported by proper approval. Cause The Center's internal controls over payroll were not consistently followed to ensure payrates were approved and timesheets agreed to payroll registers. Additionally, the Center's internal controls over nonpayroll expenditures were not consistently followed to ensure that expenditures were approved. Effect Failure to ensure accurate wage and allocation of employee's time across programs could result in non-compliance with the grant requirements or unallowable costs being charged. Additionally, failure to ensure accurate nonpayroll expenditures could result in non-compliance with the grant requirements or unallowable costs being charged. Questioned Costs None. Context We selected 25 payroll transactions charged to the federal program for testing. Out of the 25 transactions tested, we noted 21 instances where there was no formal approval of payrates and where they were not appropriately reflected in the payroll registers, 15 instances where timecards were not appropriately reflected in the payroll registers, and all 25 labor reports showed no formal approval documented. Additionally, for nonpayroll allowable costs, out of five transactions tested, we noted five instances where there was no formal approval showing review that the cost was allowable under the program. Identification of Repeat Finding Yes, see finding 2020-003. Recommendation We recommend that the Center consistently enforce its internal controls over payroll to ensure that the timesheet and payrates are reviewed and approved by the appropriate supervisor. Additionally, we recommend that the Center consistently reinforces its internal controls over nonpayroll expenditures to ensure all expenditures were approved by the appropriate supervisor. Views of Responsible Officials Management and the Board of Directors agree with the finding and will implement additional controls to ensure all expenditures have evidence of formal approval of review.
Finding 2021-003: Activities Allowed or Unallowed - Material Weakness Grantor: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Federal Program Names: Health Center Program Cluster: Health Center Program (Community Health Centers, Migrant Health Centers, Health Care for the Homeless, and Public Housing Primary Care) COVID-19 Health Center Program (Community Health Centers, Migrant Health Centers, Health Care for the Homeless, and Public Housing Primary Care) Grants for New and Expanded Services under the Health Center Program Federal Assistance Listing Numbers: 93.224 and 93.527 Federal Award Identification Number and Year: H80CS26638 - 2020 and 2021, H8DCS35487 - 2020, H8CCS34364 - 2020, H8ECS38373 - 2020, and H8F40829 - 2021 Criteria In accordance with 2 CFR, Part 200.430(i)(1), charges to Federal awards for salaries and wages must be based on records that accurately reflect the actual work performed, which must, among other things: (i) be supported by a system of internal control which provides reasonable assurance that the charges are accurate, allowable, and properly allocated; (ii) be incorporated into the official records of the non-Federal entity; (iii) and reasonably reflect the total activity for which the employee is compensated by the non-Federal entity. Additionally, costs must be adequately documented, as per 2 CFR 200.40.3(g). Condition Charges to Federal Awards for salaries and wages were not supported by properly approved payrates, and timesheets did not agree to payroll registers. Additionally, nonpayroll expenditures were not supported by proper approval. Cause The Center's internal controls over payroll were not consistently followed to ensure payrates were approved and timesheets agreed to payroll registers. Additionally, the Center's internal controls over nonpayroll expenditures were not consistently followed to ensure that expenditures were approved. Effect Failure to ensure accurate wage and allocation of employee's time across programs could result in non-compliance with the grant requirements or unallowable costs being charged. Additionally, failure to ensure accurate nonpayroll expenditures could result in non-compliance with the grant requirements or unallowable costs being charged. Questioned Costs None. Context We selected 25 payroll transactions charged to the federal program for testing. Out of the 25 transactions tested, we noted 21 instances where there was no formal approval of payrates and where they were not appropriately reflected in the payroll registers, 15 instances where timecards were not appropriately reflected in the payroll registers, and all 25 labor reports showed no formal approval documented. Additionally, for nonpayroll allowable costs, out of five transactions tested, we noted five instances where there was no formal approval showing review that the cost was allowable under the program. Identification of Repeat Finding Yes, see finding 2020-003. Recommendation We recommend that the Center consistently enforce its internal controls over payroll to ensure that the timesheet and payrates are reviewed and approved by the appropriate supervisor. Additionally, we recommend that the Center consistently reinforces its internal controls over nonpayroll expenditures to ensure all expenditures were approved by the appropriate supervisor. Views of Responsible Officials Management and the Board of Directors agree with the finding and will implement additional controls to ensure all expenditures have evidence of formal approval of review.
Finding 2021-003: Activities Allowed or Unallowed - Material Weakness Grantor: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Federal Program Names: Health Center Program Cluster: Health Center Program (Community Health Centers, Migrant Health Centers, Health Care for the Homeless, and Public Housing Primary Care) COVID-19 Health Center Program (Community Health Centers, Migrant Health Centers, Health Care for the Homeless, and Public Housing Primary Care) Grants for New and Expanded Services under the Health Center Program Federal Assistance Listing Numbers: 93.224 and 93.527 Federal Award Identification Number and Year: H80CS26638 - 2020 and 2021, H8DCS35487 - 2020, H8CCS34364 - 2020, H8ECS38373 - 2020, and H8F40829 - 2021 Criteria In accordance with 2 CFR, Part 200.430(i)(1), charges to Federal awards for salaries and wages must be based on records that accurately reflect the actual work performed, which must, among other things: (i) be supported by a system of internal control which provides reasonable assurance that the charges are accurate, allowable, and properly allocated; (ii) be incorporated into the official records of the non-Federal entity; (iii) and reasonably reflect the total activity for which the employee is compensated by the non-Federal entity. Additionally, costs must be adequately documented, as per 2 CFR 200.40.3(g). Condition Charges to Federal Awards for salaries and wages were not supported by properly approved payrates, and timesheets did not agree to payroll registers. Additionally, nonpayroll expenditures were not supported by proper approval. Cause The Center's internal controls over payroll were not consistently followed to ensure payrates were approved and timesheets agreed to payroll registers. Additionally, the Center's internal controls over nonpayroll expenditures were not consistently followed to ensure that expenditures were approved. Effect Failure to ensure accurate wage and allocation of employee's time across programs could result in non-compliance with the grant requirements or unallowable costs being charged. Additionally, failure to ensure accurate nonpayroll expenditures could result in non-compliance with the grant requirements or unallowable costs being charged. Questioned Costs None. Context We selected 25 payroll transactions charged to the federal program for testing. Out of the 25 transactions tested, we noted 21 instances where there was no formal approval of payrates and where they were not appropriately reflected in the payroll registers, 15 instances where timecards were not appropriately reflected in the payroll registers, and all 25 labor reports showed no formal approval documented. Additionally, for nonpayroll allowable costs, out of five transactions tested, we noted five instances where there was no formal approval showing review that the cost was allowable under the program. Identification of Repeat Finding Yes, see finding 2020-003. Recommendation We recommend that the Center consistently enforce its internal controls over payroll to ensure that the timesheet and payrates are reviewed and approved by the appropriate supervisor. Additionally, we recommend that the Center consistently reinforces its internal controls over nonpayroll expenditures to ensure all expenditures were approved by the appropriate supervisor. Views of Responsible Officials Management and the Board of Directors agree with the finding and will implement additional controls to ensure all expenditures have evidence of formal approval of review.
Finding 2021-003: Activities Allowed or Unallowed - Material Weakness Grantor: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Federal Program Names: Health Center Program Cluster: Health Center Program (Community Health Centers, Migrant Health Centers, Health Care for the Homeless, and Public Housing Primary Care) COVID-19 Health Center Program (Community Health Centers, Migrant Health Centers, Health Care for the Homeless, and Public Housing Primary Care) Grants for New and Expanded Services under the Health Center Program Federal Assistance Listing Numbers: 93.224 and 93.527 Federal Award Identification Number and Year: H80CS26638 - 2020 and 2021, H8DCS35487 - 2020, H8CCS34364 - 2020, H8ECS38373 - 2020, and H8F40829 - 2021 Criteria In accordance with 2 CFR, Part 200.430(i)(1), charges to Federal awards for salaries and wages must be based on records that accurately reflect the actual work performed, which must, among other things: (i) be supported by a system of internal control which provides reasonable assurance that the charges are accurate, allowable, and properly allocated; (ii) be incorporated into the official records of the non-Federal entity; (iii) and reasonably reflect the total activity for which the employee is compensated by the non-Federal entity. Additionally, costs must be adequately documented, as per 2 CFR 200.40.3(g). Condition Charges to Federal Awards for salaries and wages were not supported by properly approved payrates, and timesheets did not agree to payroll registers. Additionally, nonpayroll expenditures were not supported by proper approval. Cause The Center's internal controls over payroll were not consistently followed to ensure payrates were approved and timesheets agreed to payroll registers. Additionally, the Center's internal controls over nonpayroll expenditures were not consistently followed to ensure that expenditures were approved. Effect Failure to ensure accurate wage and allocation of employee's time across programs could result in non-compliance with the grant requirements or unallowable costs being charged. Additionally, failure to ensure accurate nonpayroll expenditures could result in non-compliance with the grant requirements or unallowable costs being charged. Questioned Costs None. Context We selected 25 payroll transactions charged to the federal program for testing. Out of the 25 transactions tested, we noted 21 instances where there was no formal approval of payrates and where they were not appropriately reflected in the payroll registers, 15 instances where timecards were not appropriately reflected in the payroll registers, and all 25 labor reports showed no formal approval documented. Additionally, for nonpayroll allowable costs, out of five transactions tested, we noted five instances where there was no formal approval showing review that the cost was allowable under the program. Identification of Repeat Finding Yes, see finding 2020-003. Recommendation We recommend that the Center consistently enforce its internal controls over payroll to ensure that the timesheet and payrates are reviewed and approved by the appropriate supervisor. Additionally, we recommend that the Center consistently reinforces its internal controls over nonpayroll expenditures to ensure all expenditures were approved by the appropriate supervisor. Views of Responsible Officials Management and the Board of Directors agree with the finding and will implement additional controls to ensure all expenditures have evidence of formal approval of review.
Federal Agency: Department of Housing and Urban Development and Department of Veterans Affairs Federal Program Name: Emergency Solutions Grant Program and VA Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program Assistance Listing Number: 14.231 and 64.024 Federal Award Identification Number and Year: E20DW37001-2021 and ODMH543-1095-659-CM-20 Pass-Through Agency: North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Aging and Adult Services Pass-Through Number(s): 00041416 Award Period: 7/29/2020 - 6/30/2021 and 10/1/2019 - 9/30/2021 Type of Finding: - Material Weakness in Internal Control over Compliance - Material Noncompliance (Modified Opinion) Criteria or specific requirement: In accordance with 2 CFR 200.302(b)(3), the recipient's financial management system must maintain records sufficient to identify the amount, source, and expenditure of federal funds for federal awards, These records must contain information necessary to identify federal awards, authorizations, financial obligations, unobligated balances, as well as assets, expenditures, income, and interest. All records must be supported by source documentation. In accordance with the Compliance Supplement, Part 6 Internal Control, 2 CFR section 200.303 requires that non-Federal entities receiving federal awards establish and maintain internal control over the federal awards that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the federal awards in compliance with federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the federal awards. In accordance with 2 CFR 200.430 (a), costs of compensation are allowable to the extent that they satisfy the specific requirements of this part, and that the total compensation for individual employees: (1) Is reasonable for the services rendered and conforms to the established written policy of the non-Federal entity consistently applied to both Federal and non-Federal activities; (2) Follows an appointment made in accordance with a non-Federal entity's laws and/or rules or written policies and meets the requirements of Federal statute, where applicable; and (3) Is determined and supported as provided in paragraph (i) of this section, when applicable. In accordance with 2 CFR 200.430(g), charges to Federal awards for salaries and wages must be based on records that accurately reflect the work performed. The records must: (1) Be supported by a system of internal control that provides reasonable assurance that the charges are accurate, allowable, and properly allocated, (2) Be incorporated into the official records of the recipient (3) Reasonably reflect the total activity for which the employee is compensated. Condition: During our testing, we noted the Organization did not have adequate controls to ensure that expenditures of federal awards were properly supported, reasonably reflective of the work performed, and properly reviewed and approved. Questioned costs: Assistance listing number: 14.231 Federal award identification number: E20DW37001-2021 Known questioned costs: $19,334 Assistance listing number: 64.024 Federal award identification number: ODMH543-1095-659-CM-20 Know questioned costs: $51,247 Context: During our testing, we noted the following related to the VA Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program: 40 out of 40 payroll transactions tested for allowable costs and allowable activities were not allocated based on actual time worked on the grant and lacked adequate records. 27 out of 40 tested for allowable costs and allowable activities did not have evidence showing expenditures were allowable under the grant 25 out of 40 tested for allowable costs and allowable activities lacked evidence of review and approval 17 out of 17 tested for period of performance did not have evidence of review and approval 5 out of 17 tested for period of performance lacked appropriate supporting documentation showing the expenditures related to the grant During our testing, we noted the following related to the Emergency Solutions Grant Program: 20 of 40 tested for allowable costs and allowable activities lacked evidence showing the expenditures were allowable under the grant 3 of 40 tested for allowable costs and allowable activities were not allowable under the grant. 6 out of 11 payroll transactions tested for allowable costs and allowable activities were not allocated based on actual time worked on the grant and lacked adequate records. Cause: The Organizations controls were not sufficient to ensure that expenditures of federal funds were supported, reasonably reflecting the work performed under the program, reviewed and approved, and only for allowable costs and allowable activities. Effect: The Organization could have incurred expenses that were not allowable under the grant beyond those identified. Repeat Finding: No Recommendation: We recommend the Organization develop a system of internal controls to ensure that salaries and related payroll expenses are tracked to reasonably reflect the actual time spent working on the programs. In addition we recommend that management retain all documents including evidence of review and approval for all expenditures of federal funds until the latter of the legally required retention period or completion of required audits. Views of responsible officials: There is no disagreement with the audit finding.