Assistance Listing, Federal Agency, and Program Name - ALN 97.036, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Disaster Grants - Public Assistance (FEMA) Federal Award Identification Number and Year - All grants under ALN Pass-through Entity - Michigan Department of State Police Finding Type - Material weakness Repeat Finding - Yes 2022-004 Criteria - Per 2 CFR 200.510(b) - The auditee must also prepare a schedule of expenditures of federal awards for the period covered by the auditee's financial statements, which must include the total federal awards expended determined in accordance with Section 200.502. Condition - The FEMA expenditures on the schedule of expenditures of federal awards (SEFA) initially presented for audit were not complete and accurate. Questioned Costs - None Identification of How Questioned Costs Were Computed - Not applicable Context - In fiscal year 2023, the County expended approximately $122 million of federal funding. The funding was received by various departments within the County and from several federal and nonfederal entities. The County accumulates the financial data and other required information to complete the SEFA. The FEMA expenditures on the SEFA were understated by $2,449,502. Cause and Effect - Controls in place did not ensure the SEFA was complete and accurate for FEMA, and, as a result, FEMA expenditures of $2,449,502 were added to the SEFA, impacting major program determination. Recommendation - The County should implement a process to ensure the FEMA expenditures reported on the SEFA are complete and accurate. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions - Training on FEMA reporting for the SEFA was requested and performed by our auditors. Fiscal year 2024 is the last year any FEMA obligations will happen. A full understanding of the reported amount has been noted.
Assistance Listing, Federal Agency, and Program Name - ALN 97.036, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Disaster Grants - Public Assistance (FEMA) Federal Award Identification Number and Year - All grants under ALN Pass-through Entity - Michigan Department of State Police Finding Type - Material weakness Repeat Finding - Yes 2022-004 Criteria - Per 2 CFR 200.510(b) - The auditee must also prepare a schedule of expenditures of federal awards for the period covered by the auditee's financial statements, which must include the total federal awards expended determined in accordance with Section 200.502. Condition - The FEMA expenditures on the schedule of expenditures of federal awards (SEFA) initially presented for audit were not complete and accurate. Questioned Costs - None Identification of How Questioned Costs Were Computed - Not applicable Context - In fiscal year 2023, the County expended approximately $122 million of federal funding. The funding was received by various departments within the County and from several federal and nonfederal entities. The County accumulates the financial data and other required information to complete the SEFA. The FEMA expenditures on the SEFA were understated by $2,449,502. Cause and Effect - Controls in place did not ensure the SEFA was complete and accurate for FEMA, and, as a result, FEMA expenditures of $2,449,502 were added to the SEFA, impacting major program determination. Recommendation - The County should implement a process to ensure the FEMA expenditures reported on the SEFA are complete and accurate. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions - Training on FEMA reporting for the SEFA was requested and performed by our auditors. Fiscal year 2024 is the last year any FEMA obligations will happen. A full understanding of the reported amount has been noted.
Assistance Listing, Federal Agency, and Program Name - ALN 97.036, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Disaster Grants - Public Assistance (FEMA) Federal Award Identification Number and Year - All grants under ALN Pass-through Entity - Michigan Department of State Police Finding Type - Material weakness Repeat Finding - Yes 2022-004 Criteria - Per 2 CFR 200.510(b) - The auditee must also prepare a schedule of expenditures of federal awards for the period covered by the auditee's financial statements, which must include the total federal awards expended determined in accordance with Section 200.502. Condition - The FEMA expenditures on the schedule of expenditures of federal awards (SEFA) initially presented for audit were not complete and accurate. Questioned Costs - None Identification of How Questioned Costs Were Computed - Not applicable Context - In fiscal year 2023, the County expended approximately $122 million of federal funding. The funding was received by various departments within the County and from several federal and nonfederal entities. The County accumulates the financial data and other required information to complete the SEFA. The FEMA expenditures on the SEFA were understated by $2,449,502. Cause and Effect - Controls in place did not ensure the SEFA was complete and accurate for FEMA, and, as a result, FEMA expenditures of $2,449,502 were added to the SEFA, impacting major program determination. Recommendation - The County should implement a process to ensure the FEMA expenditures reported on the SEFA are complete and accurate. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions - Training on FEMA reporting for the SEFA was requested and performed by our auditors. Fiscal year 2024 is the last year any FEMA obligations will happen. A full understanding of the reported amount has been noted.
Assistance Listing, Federal Agency, and Program Name - ALN 97.036, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Disaster Grants - Public Assistance (FEMA) Federal Award Identification Number and Year - All grants under ALN Pass-through Entity - Michigan Department of State Police Finding Type - Material weakness Repeat Finding - Yes 2022-004 Criteria - Per 2 CFR 200.510(b) - The auditee must also prepare a schedule of expenditures of federal awards for the period covered by the auditee's financial statements, which must include the total federal awards expended determined in accordance with Section 200.502. Condition - The FEMA expenditures on the schedule of expenditures of federal awards (SEFA) initially presented for audit were not complete and accurate. Questioned Costs - None Identification of How Questioned Costs Were Computed - Not applicable Context - In fiscal year 2023, the County expended approximately $122 million of federal funding. The funding was received by various departments within the County and from several federal and nonfederal entities. The County accumulates the financial data and other required information to complete the SEFA. The FEMA expenditures on the SEFA were understated by $2,449,502. Cause and Effect - Controls in place did not ensure the SEFA was complete and accurate for FEMA, and, as a result, FEMA expenditures of $2,449,502 were added to the SEFA, impacting major program determination. Recommendation - The County should implement a process to ensure the FEMA expenditures reported on the SEFA are complete and accurate. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions - Training on FEMA reporting for the SEFA was requested and performed by our auditors. Fiscal year 2024 is the last year any FEMA obligations will happen. A full understanding of the reported amount has been noted.
Finding Number: 2023-011 Program: Disaster Grants – Public Assistance (Presidentially Declared Disasters) ALN #: 97.036 Pass-through Entity: State of California – Office of Emergency Services Federal Agency: Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Grant Award Numbers: 3100202051, 3100202055, 3100202058, and 3100202059 Federal Award Years: January 27, 2023, March 12, 2023, July 17, 2023, July 21, 2023 Compliance Requirement: Other – Inaccurate reporting of the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards Criteria According to 2 CFR 200.510(b), a recipient of federal awards is required to prepare a schedule of expenditures of Federal awards (SEFA) for the period covered by the entity’s financial statements which must include the total Federal awards expended as determined in accordance with 2 CFR 200.502. Additionally, 2 CFR 200.303 requires non-Federal entities receiving Federal awards to establish and maintain internal controls designated to reasonably ensure compliance with Federal laws, regulations and program compliance requirements. Effective internal controls should include procedures to ensure federal expenditures are accurately and completely reported on the SEFA. Conditions Found The City did not have adequate internal controls related to the reporting of expenditures on the SEFA for Disaster Grants – Public Assistance (Presidentially Declared Disasters) (Disaster Grants) program. The City incorrectly reported $2,165,166 in expenditures on the September 30, 2023 draft Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA) related to grants that were not obligated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as of September 30, 2023, resulting in the draft SEFA being overstated. While the City had incurred costs under these FEMA projects, nonfederal entities may not record expenditures on the SEFA until FEMA has approved the nonfederal entity’s project and has obligated those expenditures to the nonfederal entity. The City subsequently revised the SEFA so that the expenditures reported are accurate. Cause In discussing these conditions with the City, it stated the error was primarily due to the City not understanding the updated guidance issued by FEMA that notes FEMA expenditures are to be recorded on the SEFA at the later of the FEMA obligation date or the incurrence of an allowable expense. Effect Failure to establish effective internal controls regarding financial reporting for the preparation of the Schedule may prevent the City from completing an audit in accordance with the timelines of Uniform Guidance. Questioned Costs Not applicable Repeat finding A similar finding was not reported in the prior year. Statistical sample The sample was not intended to be, and was not, a statistically valid sample. Recommendation We recommend the City implement a system of internal control that is designed and operating at a level of precision to ensure the Schedule is complete and accurate. View of Responsible Officials The Financial Management Department acknowledges there was a deficiency in the manner that expenditures were reported for a declared disaster on the SEFA for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2023. The $2,165,166 overstatement represented expenditures that FEMA obligated within 60 days of September 30, 2023. Given the program is maintained in a Governmental Fund, the Department recorded a revenue accrual in the FY 2023 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) to align with the City’s existing policy to record grant revenue expected to be collected within one year in the same fiscal year expenditures are reported. The Department recognizes FEMA Disaster Grants should be an exception and will prevent this reporting error by updating the Revenue Recognition Policy and issuing a Financial Management Disaster Procedure Manual that will include a narrative on this specific matter. The Procedures Manual will be published on the City Intranet and utilized for all City Staff as a resource for all future disaster grants funded by FEMA’s Public Assistance Program (ALN 97.036). Revisions to the Procedure Manual will be made as needed to ensure the City is current with the latest compliance changes. In addition to attending regular meetings and obtaining direct correspondence and guidance from FEMA representatives, Financial Management will also perform its own research to obtain, read, and apply the latest Uniform Guidance Compliance Supplement prior to the annual SEFA preparation process to ensure the City is meeting compliance requirements. The proper FEMA expenditures amount for fiscal year ended September 30, 2023, was revised in subsequent SEFA drafts and is reflected in the final Single Audit report.
2023-006: Preparing Accurate and Complete Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA) Assistance Listing Number, Federal Agency, and Program Name: Assistance Listing Number 93.696, Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic Expansion Grant Federal Award Identification Number and Year: 1H79SM086680-01, Program Grant Period 09/29/2022-09/29/2023 Pass-through Entity: N/A Type: Material weakness in internal controls and material noncompliance with laws and regulations Repeat Finding: No Criteria: Per 2 CFR 200.510(b), the auditee must prepare a schedule of expenditures of federal awards for the period covered by the auditee’s financial statements, which must include the total federal awards expended as determined with section 200.502. Condition: The Authority did not identify that they were subject to an audit under the Uniform Guidance (U.G.) and a schedule of expenditures of federal awards (SEFA) was not prepared by management. Identification of How Likely Questioned Costs Were Computed: N/A Known Questioned Costs: None Context: This was the first year of the CCBHC grant which was $568,350 of the total of $1,029,718 federal awards. In reviewing if a single audit was required only the CCBHC grant was consider which was below the $750,000 threshold, however when combined with the entities other federal awards the amount exceed the $750,000 threshold. As a result, management may fail to identify that an audit under the Uniform Guidance is required and that all federal dollars are included. Cause/Effect: The Authority’s controls were not adequate to ensure that they identify the requirement to have an audit under the Uniform Guidance and the preparation of an accurate and complete SEFA. As a result, management may fail to identify that an audit under the Uniform Guidance is required and that all federal dollars are included. Recommendation: We recommend the Authority review federal, state, and local grants to determine if they are federally funded and, if federally funded, utilize the account number outlined in the State of Michigan chart of accounts to track federal funding. View of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Action Plan: See attached corrective action plan.
Preparation of Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA) (repeat) Finding Type: Material Weakness in Internal Controls and Noncompliance (Reporting, Cash Management and Allowable Costs/Cost Principles) Federal Program: U.S. Department of Treasury – Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (AL #21.027) and Local Assistance and Tribal Consistency Fund (AL #21.032) Criteria: The Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Section 200.303(b) requires non-Federal entities to 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 terms and conditions of the Federal award. CFR Section 200.502(a) states that the determination of when a Federal award is expended should be based on when the activity related to the Federal award occurs. Generally, the activity pertains to events that require the nonFederal entity to comply with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of Federal awards, such as expenditure/expense transactions associated with grant awards. The County reports expenditures on the SEFA when the expenditure has been incurred, or on the accrual basis of accounting, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. CFR Section 200.510(b) requires the auditee to prepare a SEFA for the period covered by the auditee’s financial statements which must include the total Federal awards expended as determined in accordance with CFR Section 200.502(a), as stated above, and must reconcile amounts reported in the SEFA to the amounts reported in the auditee’s financial statements. Condition: The SEFA was not appropriately reconciled to federal grant revenues and expenditures recorded in the financial statements. Changes were made to major program expenditures, as well as expenditures of other programs, during the closing process and during the completion of the single audit to properly report expenditures on the SEFA. Closing procedures should be in place to reconcile grant expenditures incurred at year-end, confirm the amount as eligible with the grantor, claim the g ant revenues on a timely basis, reconcile the claim to the general ledger, and ensure the expenditures that will be claimed under federal awards are properly reported on the SEFA and audited financial statements prior to the start of the single audit. If expenditures reported on the SEFA are misstated, the County could fail to have a program appropriately identified as a major program and tested as a major program during the single audit. Failure to have a program audited during the single audit would result in noncompliance with Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations Part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance). Cause: Closing procedures were not in place and management did not effectively communicate with County departments responsible for administering federal awards to identify all federal grant related activity. Effect: The SEFA required material adjustments to include all federal expenditures prior to the single audit beginning, which resulted in a misstated preliminary SEFA and inefficiencies during the single audit. In addition, the lack of closing procedures resulted in audit delays which caused the 2022 and 2023 financial reporting process, including data collection form submission, to be untimely. Questioned Costs: No costs have been questioned as a result of this finding. Recommendation: We recommend that management meet with department heads throughout the year and during the closing process to identify all expenditures under federal awards. Training should be provided to all staff to make sure they are aware of the importance of accurately reconciling and claiming grant expenditures on a timely basis and providing the information to management for inclusion on the SEFA. Views of Responsible Officials: The County will work to improve closing processes and communications with various departments to ensure the SEFA is complete and accurate.
Preparation of Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA) (repeat) Finding Type: Material Weakness in Internal Controls and Noncompliance (Reporting, Cash Management and Allowable Costs/Cost Principles) Federal Program: U.S. Department of Treasury – Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (AL #21.027) and Local Assistance and Tribal Consistency Fund (AL #21.032) Criteria: The Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Section 200.303(b) requires non-Federal entities to 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 terms and conditions of the Federal award. CFR Section 200.502(a) states that the determination of when a Federal award is expended should be based on when the activity related to the Federal award occurs. Generally, the activity pertains to events that require the nonFederal entity to comply with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of Federal awards, such as expenditure/expense transactions associated with grant awards. The County reports expenditures on the SEFA when the expenditure has been incurred, or on the accrual basis of accounting, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. CFR Section 200.510(b) requires the auditee to prepare a SEFA for the period covered by the auditee’s financial statements which must include the total Federal awards expended as determined in accordance with CFR Section 200.502(a), as stated above, and must reconcile amounts reported in the SEFA to the amounts reported in the auditee’s financial statements. Condition: The SEFA was not appropriately reconciled to federal grant revenues and expenditures recorded in the financial statements. Changes were made to major program expenditures, as well as expenditures of other programs, during the closing process and during the completion of the single audit to properly report expenditures on the SEFA. Closing procedures should be in place to reconcile grant expenditures incurred at year-end, confirm the amount as eligible with the grantor, claim the g ant revenues on a timely basis, reconcile the claim to the general ledger, and ensure the expenditures that will be claimed under federal awards are properly reported on the SEFA and audited financial statements prior to the start of the single audit. If expenditures reported on the SEFA are misstated, the County could fail to have a program appropriately identified as a major program and tested as a major program during the single audit. Failure to have a program audited during the single audit would result in noncompliance with Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations Part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance). Cause: Closing procedures were not in place and management did not effectively communicate with County departments responsible for administering federal awards to identify all federal grant related activity. Effect: The SEFA required material adjustments to include all federal expenditures prior to the single audit beginning, which resulted in a misstated preliminary SEFA and inefficiencies during the single audit. In addition, the lack of closing procedures resulted in audit delays which caused the 2022 and 2023 financial reporting process, including data collection form submission, to be untimely. Questioned Costs: No costs have been questioned as a result of this finding. Recommendation: We recommend that management meet with department heads throughout the year and during the closing process to identify all expenditures under federal awards. Training should be provided to all staff to make sure they are aware of the importance of accurately reconciling and claiming grant expenditures on a timely basis and providing the information to management for inclusion on the SEFA. Views of Responsible Officials: The County will work to improve closing processes and communications with various departments to ensure the SEFA is complete and accurate.
2023-003: Significant deficiency over preparation of the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards Assistance listing number(s): All Agency: All Program: All Grant Year: 2023 Criteria: According to 2 CFR 200.510(b), the audit is responsible for the preparation of the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA). The SEFA must include, at a minimum, the information required by 2 CFR 200.510(b). Condition: One award was initially excluded from the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA) despite being a federal subaward. In addition, certain award balances were not correctly calculated by improperly excluding amounts already expended that will be reimbursed under the federal award, or improperly including amounts advanced and not yet expended. Cause: Balances on the schedule were calculated in-line with internal budgets rather than actual expenditures. Effect: The SEFA was not properly prepared for the year ended September 30, 2023. Questioned costs: There were no questioned costs related to this finding. Repeat finding: This is not a repeat finding. Auditor’s recommendation: We recommend all agreements be reviewed to determine whether they are grants or contracts. Written policies and procedures should detail how the SEFA gets compiled to ensure proper and complete information. The calculations on the SEFA should be reviewed and approved by a supervisor and compared against expected balances. Views of Responsible Officials and Corrective Action Plan (unaudited): See corrective action plan.
2023-003: Significant deficiency over preparation of the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards Assistance listing number(s): All Agency: All Program: All Grant Year: 2023 Criteria: According to 2 CFR 200.510(b), the audit is responsible for the preparation of the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA). The SEFA must include, at a minimum, the information required by 2 CFR 200.510(b). Condition: One award was initially excluded from the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA) despite being a federal subaward. In addition, certain award balances were not correctly calculated by improperly excluding amounts already expended that will be reimbursed under the federal award, or improperly including amounts advanced and not yet expended. Cause: Balances on the schedule were calculated in-line with internal budgets rather than actual expenditures. Effect: The SEFA was not properly prepared for the year ended September 30, 2023. Questioned costs: There were no questioned costs related to this finding. Repeat finding: This is not a repeat finding. Auditor’s recommendation: We recommend all agreements be reviewed to determine whether they are grants or contracts. Written policies and procedures should detail how the SEFA gets compiled to ensure proper and complete information. The calculations on the SEFA should be reviewed and approved by a supervisor and compared against expected balances. Views of Responsible Officials and Corrective Action Plan (unaudited): See corrective action plan.
2023-003: Significant deficiency over preparation of the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards Assistance listing number(s): All Agency: All Program: All Grant Year: 2023 Criteria: According to 2 CFR 200.510(b), the audit is responsible for the preparation of the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA). The SEFA must include, at a minimum, the information required by 2 CFR 200.510(b). Condition: One award was initially excluded from the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA) despite being a federal subaward. In addition, certain award balances were not correctly calculated by improperly excluding amounts already expended that will be reimbursed under the federal award, or improperly including amounts advanced and not yet expended. Cause: Balances on the schedule were calculated in-line with internal budgets rather than actual expenditures. Effect: The SEFA was not properly prepared for the year ended September 30, 2023. Questioned costs: There were no questioned costs related to this finding. Repeat finding: This is not a repeat finding. Auditor’s recommendation: We recommend all agreements be reviewed to determine whether they are grants or contracts. Written policies and procedures should detail how the SEFA gets compiled to ensure proper and complete information. The calculations on the SEFA should be reviewed and approved by a supervisor and compared against expected balances. Views of Responsible Officials and Corrective Action Plan (unaudited): See corrective action plan.
2023-003: Significant deficiency over preparation of the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards Assistance listing number(s): All Agency: All Program: All Grant Year: 2023 Criteria: According to 2 CFR 200.510(b), the audit is responsible for the preparation of the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA). The SEFA must include, at a minimum, the information required by 2 CFR 200.510(b). Condition: One award was initially excluded from the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA) despite being a federal subaward. In addition, certain award balances were not correctly calculated by improperly excluding amounts already expended that will be reimbursed under the federal award, or improperly including amounts advanced and not yet expended. Cause: Balances on the schedule were calculated in-line with internal budgets rather than actual expenditures. Effect: The SEFA was not properly prepared for the year ended September 30, 2023. Questioned costs: There were no questioned costs related to this finding. Repeat finding: This is not a repeat finding. Auditor’s recommendation: We recommend all agreements be reviewed to determine whether they are grants or contracts. Written policies and procedures should detail how the SEFA gets compiled to ensure proper and complete information. The calculations on the SEFA should be reviewed and approved by a supervisor and compared against expected balances. Views of Responsible Officials and Corrective Action Plan (unaudited): See corrective action plan.
2023-003: Significant deficiency over preparation of the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards Assistance listing number(s): All Agency: All Program: All Grant Year: 2023 Criteria: According to 2 CFR 200.510(b), the audit is responsible for the preparation of the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA). The SEFA must include, at a minimum, the information required by 2 CFR 200.510(b). Condition: One award was initially excluded from the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA) despite being a federal subaward. In addition, certain award balances were not correctly calculated by improperly excluding amounts already expended that will be reimbursed under the federal award, or improperly including amounts advanced and not yet expended. Cause: Balances on the schedule were calculated in-line with internal budgets rather than actual expenditures. Effect: The SEFA was not properly prepared for the year ended September 30, 2023. Questioned costs: There were no questioned costs related to this finding. Repeat finding: This is not a repeat finding. Auditor’s recommendation: We recommend all agreements be reviewed to determine whether they are grants or contracts. Written policies and procedures should detail how the SEFA gets compiled to ensure proper and complete information. The calculations on the SEFA should be reviewed and approved by a supervisor and compared against expected balances. Views of Responsible Officials and Corrective Action Plan (unaudited): See corrective action plan.
2023-003: Significant deficiency over preparation of the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards Assistance listing number(s): All Agency: All Program: All Grant Year: 2023 Criteria: According to 2 CFR 200.510(b), the audit is responsible for the preparation of the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA). The SEFA must include, at a minimum, the information required by 2 CFR 200.510(b). Condition: One award was initially excluded from the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA) despite being a federal subaward. In addition, certain award balances were not correctly calculated by improperly excluding amounts already expended that will be reimbursed under the federal award, or improperly including amounts advanced and not yet expended. Cause: Balances on the schedule were calculated in-line with internal budgets rather than actual expenditures. Effect: The SEFA was not properly prepared for the year ended September 30, 2023. Questioned costs: There were no questioned costs related to this finding. Repeat finding: This is not a repeat finding. Auditor’s recommendation: We recommend all agreements be reviewed to determine whether they are grants or contracts. Written policies and procedures should detail how the SEFA gets compiled to ensure proper and complete information. The calculations on the SEFA should be reviewed and approved by a supervisor and compared against expected balances. Views of Responsible Officials and Corrective Action Plan (unaudited): See corrective action plan.
Assistance Listing, Federal Agency, and Program Name 66.818, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Brownfields Assessment and Cleanup Cooperative Agreements; 14.218, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, CDBG Entitlement Grants Cluster Community Development Block Grant Federal Award Identification Number and Year N/A Pass through Entity ALN 14.218 Wayne County Finding Type Material weakness Repeat Finding Yes 2022 002 Criteria The Single Audit Act and Uniform Guidance require a nonfederal entity that expends $750,000 or more of federal awards in a fiscal year to have a single or program specific audit. 2 CFR §200.508 (b) indicates that the auditee must prepare financial statements, including the schedule of expenditures of Federal awards in accordance with 2 CFR §200.510. Additionally, 2 CFR §200.502 describes the basis for determining the timing of when federal awards are deemed expended and, therefore, reportable on the schedule. Condition The schedule of expenditures of federal awards (SEFA) was not accurate. Questioned Costs None Identification of How Questioned Costs Were Computed N/A Context During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2023, the City expended approximately $921,000 of federal funding. The initial draft of the SEFA included the following inaccuracies: ALN 66.818 The expenditures reported on the SEFA were understated by $689,255. ALN 14.218 The expenditures reported on the SEFA were understated by $55,192. The errors noted above have been corrected on the SEFA as of September 30, 2023. Cause and Effect Controls in place did not ensure the SEFA was complete and accurate for the fiscal period under audit. The errors resulted in the understatement of federal expenditures. Additionally, the understatement of federal expenditures on the SEFA resulted in the incorrect conclusion that federal activity was below $750,000 and, therefore, a single audit was not needed. Recommendation We recommend the City implement a process to ensure that the SEFA is complete and accurate. Views of Responsible Officials and Corrective Action Plan The City will review its process for identifying and communicating Federal Grant expenditures to its auditors.
Assistance Listing, Federal Agency, and Program Name 66.818, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Brownfields Assessment and Cleanup Cooperative Agreements; 14.218, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, CDBG Entitlement Grants Cluster Community Development Block Grant Federal Award Identification Number and Year N/A Pass through Entity ALN 14.218 Wayne County Finding Type Material weakness Repeat Finding Yes 2022 002 Criteria The Single Audit Act and Uniform Guidance require a nonfederal entity that expends $750,000 or more of federal awards in a fiscal year to have a single or program specific audit. 2 CFR §200.508 (b) indicates that the auditee must prepare financial statements, including the schedule of expenditures of Federal awards in accordance with 2 CFR §200.510. Additionally, 2 CFR §200.502 describes the basis for determining the timing of when federal awards are deemed expended and, therefore, reportable on the schedule. Condition The schedule of expenditures of federal awards (SEFA) was not accurate. Questioned Costs None Identification of How Questioned Costs Were Computed N/A Context During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2023, the City expended approximately $921,000 of federal funding. The initial draft of the SEFA included the following inaccuracies: ALN 66.818 The expenditures reported on the SEFA were understated by $689,255. ALN 14.218 The expenditures reported on the SEFA were understated by $55,192. The errors noted above have been corrected on the SEFA as of September 30, 2023. Cause and Effect Controls in place did not ensure the SEFA was complete and accurate for the fiscal period under audit. The errors resulted in the understatement of federal expenditures. Additionally, the understatement of federal expenditures on the SEFA resulted in the incorrect conclusion that federal activity was below $750,000 and, therefore, a single audit was not needed. Recommendation We recommend the City implement a process to ensure that the SEFA is complete and accurate. Views of Responsible Officials and Corrective Action Plan The City will review its process for identifying and communicating Federal Grant expenditures to its auditors.
Assistance Listing Number, Federal Agency, and Program Name - ALN 97.036, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Disaster Grants Public Assistance (FEMA) Federal Award Identification Number and Year - All grants under ALN Pass through Entity - Michigan Department of State Police Finding Type - Material weakness Repeat Finding - Yes 2022 004 Criteria - Per 2 CFR Section 200.510(b), the auditee must also prepare a schedule of expenditures of federal awards for the period covered by the auditee's financial statements, which must include the total federal awards expended determined in accordance with Section 200.502. Condition - The FEMA expenditures on the schedule of expenditures of federal awards (SEFA) initially presented for audit were not complete and accurate. Questioned Costs - None Identification of How Questioned Costs Were Computed - Not applicable Context - In fiscal year 2023, the County expended approximately $122 million of federal funding. The funding was received by various departments within the County and from several federal and nonfederal entities. The County accumulates the financial data and other required information to complete the SEFA. The FEMA expenditures on the SEFA were understated by $2,449,502. Cause and Effect - Controls in place did not ensure the SEFA was complete and accurate for FEMA, and, as a result, FEMA expenditures of $2,449,502 were added to the SEFA, impacting major program determination. Recommendation - The County should implement a process to ensure the FEMA expenditures reported on the SEFA are complete and accurate. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions - Training on FEMA reporting for the SEFA was requested and performed by our auditors. Fiscal year 2024 is the last year any FEMA obligations will happen. A full understanding of the reported amount has been noted.
Assistance Listing Number, Federal Agency, and Program Name - ALN 97.036, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Disaster Grants Public Assistance (FEMA) Federal Award Identification Number and Year - All grants under ALN Pass through Entity - Michigan Department of State Police Finding Type - Material weakness Repeat Finding - Yes 2022 004 Criteria - Per 2 CFR Section 200.510(b), the auditee must also prepare a schedule of expenditures of federal awards for the period covered by the auditee's financial statements, which must include the total federal awards expended determined in accordance with Section 200.502. Condition - The FEMA expenditures on the schedule of expenditures of federal awards (SEFA) initially presented for audit were not complete and accurate. Questioned Costs - None Identification of How Questioned Costs Were Computed - Not applicable Context - In fiscal year 2023, the County expended approximately $122 million of federal funding. The funding was received by various departments within the County and from several federal and nonfederal entities. The County accumulates the financial data and other required information to complete the SEFA. The FEMA expenditures on the SEFA were understated by $2,449,502. Cause and Effect - Controls in place did not ensure the SEFA was complete and accurate for FEMA, and, as a result, FEMA expenditures of $2,449,502 were added to the SEFA, impacting major program determination. Recommendation - The County should implement a process to ensure the FEMA expenditures reported on the SEFA are complete and accurate. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions - Training on FEMA reporting for the SEFA was requested and performed by our auditors. Fiscal year 2024 is the last year any FEMA obligations will happen. A full understanding of the reported amount has been noted.
Assistance Listing Number, Federal Agency, and Program Name - ALN 97.036, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Disaster Grants Public Assistance (FEMA) Federal Award Identification Number and Year - All grants under ALN Pass through Entity - Michigan Department of State Police Finding Type - Material weakness Repeat Finding - Yes 2022 004 Criteria - Per 2 CFR Section 200.510(b), the auditee must also prepare a schedule of expenditures of federal awards for the period covered by the auditee's financial statements, which must include the total federal awards expended determined in accordance with Section 200.502. Condition - The FEMA expenditures on the schedule of expenditures of federal awards (SEFA) initially presented for audit were not complete and accurate. Questioned Costs - None Identification of How Questioned Costs Were Computed - Not applicable Context - In fiscal year 2023, the County expended approximately $122 million of federal funding. The funding was received by various departments within the County and from several federal and nonfederal entities. The County accumulates the financial data and other required information to complete the SEFA. The FEMA expenditures on the SEFA were understated by $2,449,502. Cause and Effect - Controls in place did not ensure the SEFA was complete and accurate for FEMA, and, as a result, FEMA expenditures of $2,449,502 were added to the SEFA, impacting major program determination. Recommendation - The County should implement a process to ensure the FEMA expenditures reported on the SEFA are complete and accurate. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions - Training on FEMA reporting for the SEFA was requested and performed by our auditors. Fiscal year 2024 is the last year any FEMA obligations will happen. A full understanding of the reported amount has been noted.
Assistance Listing Number, Federal Agency, and Program Name - ALN 97.036, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Disaster Grants Public Assistance (FEMA) Federal Award Identification Number and Year - All grants under ALN Pass through Entity - Michigan Department of State Police Finding Type - Material weakness Repeat Finding - Yes 2022 004 Criteria - Per 2 CFR Section 200.510(b), the auditee must also prepare a schedule of expenditures of federal awards for the period covered by the auditee's financial statements, which must include the total federal awards expended determined in accordance with Section 200.502. Condition - The FEMA expenditures on the schedule of expenditures of federal awards (SEFA) initially presented for audit were not complete and accurate. Questioned Costs - None Identification of How Questioned Costs Were Computed - Not applicable Context - In fiscal year 2023, the County expended approximately $122 million of federal funding. The funding was received by various departments within the County and from several federal and nonfederal entities. The County accumulates the financial data and other required information to complete the SEFA. The FEMA expenditures on the SEFA were understated by $2,449,502. Cause and Effect - Controls in place did not ensure the SEFA was complete and accurate for FEMA, and, as a result, FEMA expenditures of $2,449,502 were added to the SEFA, impacting major program determination. Recommendation - The County should implement a process to ensure the FEMA expenditures reported on the SEFA are complete and accurate. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions - Training on FEMA reporting for the SEFA was requested and performed by our auditors. Fiscal year 2024 is the last year any FEMA obligations will happen. A full understanding of the reported amount has been noted.
Assistance Listing Number, Federal Agency, and Program Name - ALN 66.458, U.S. Environment Protection Agency Capitalization Grants for Clean Water State Revolving Funds (CWSRF) Federal Award Identification Number and Year - Project Number 5834 01 (2023) Pass through Entity - Michigan Department Environment, Great Lakes and Energy Finding Type - Material weakness Repeat Finding - No Criteria - Per 2 CFR 200.508(b), an auditee must prepare appropriate financial statements, including the schedule of expenditures of federal awards, in accordance with 200.510 financial statements. Per 2 CFR 200.510(b), the auditee must also prepare a schedule of expenditures of federal awards for the period covered by the auditee's financial statements, which must include the total federal awards expended, as determined in accordance with 200.502 basis for determining federal awards expended. Condition - Controls in place were not adequate to ensure the schedule of federal expenditures was complete and accurate. If Questioned Costs Are Not Determinable, Description of Why Known Questioned Costs Were Undetermined or Otherwise Could Not Be Reported - N/A Identification of How Questioned Costs Were Computed - N/A Context - The County did not initially include the funds received through the Capitalization Grants for Clean Water State Revolving Funds. Cause and Effect - The County did not have a process in place to identify all potential sources of federal funding received during the year, resulting in the SEFA being incomplete for the year ended September 30, 2023. Upon discovery of the error, the County prepared a SEFA that included the Capitalization Grants for Clean Water State Revolving Funds. This lack of controls resulted in the reissuance of the 2023 single audit. Recommendation - Management should implement controls to ensure all federal funding received is properly identified as such and included on the SEFA. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions - Management agrees with the finding as reported. The federal funding was not received until fiscal year 2023, while expenditures were incurred prior to fiscal year 2023. The timing of events contributed to the oversight on the 2023 SEFA. The County has reeducated staff on the preparation of the SEFA in order to prevent this error from reoccurring.
2023-02 Expenditures of Federal Awards Internal Control and Compliance AL/CFDA#: 93.243 Federal Program: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Projects of Regional and National Significance Criteria: The Uniform Guidance-2CFR 200.508(b) and 2 CFR 200.508(d)-state: “The auditee must:…(b) Prepare appropriate financial statements, including the schedule of Federal awards in accordance with §200.510…(d) Provide the auditor with access to personnel, accounts, books, records, supporting documentation, and other information as needed for the auditor to perform the audit required by this part.” Also, the Uniform Guidance §200.512 requires “the audit be completed and the data collection form described in paragraph (b) of this section must be submitted within the earlier of 30 calendar days after receipts of the auditor’s report(s), or nine months after the end of the audit period.” Condition: The NIWHRC experienced a change in the Executive Director and also in their accounting firm during the period under audit. The NIWHRC also experienced difficulty in finding a qualified audit firm to perform the audit. Cause and Effect: NIWHRC is out of compliance with the reporting deadline for the audit. Recommendation: I recommend the NIWHRC develop policy and procedures to ensure the organization remains in compliance with federal award obligations. Responsible Official's Response: The Executive Director has returned from sabbatical and has resumed duties and the NIWHRC has engaged a CPA audit firm.
Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program Part A SEFA reporting Federal Agency: Department of Health and Human Services Program: HIV Emergency Relief Project Grants (Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program Part A) Assistance Listing #: 93.914 Criteria OMB Uniform Guidance 2 CFR 200.510(b)(3) requires that the auditee provide the Federal awards expended for each individual Federal program on the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA). In accordance with 2 CFR 200.502, the determination of when a Federal award is expended, and thereby reported on the SEFA, is generally based on when the activity related to the Federal award occurs. Condition The Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program Part A reimburses award recipients based on the number of units of care coordination services provided to eligible patients plus reimbursement for program deliverables coordinated by the recipient. Sunset Park tracked expenditures for SEFA reporting purposes on the basis of care coordinator salary expenses incurred, rather than on the reimbursement received from the passthrough sponsor. As a result, expenditures reported on the draft 2023 SEFA were understated. This has been corrected by management in the final SEFA included in this report. There was no impact on our audit scoping given this award was already included as a major program. Cause Sunset Park did not have a process in place to identify awards that are not cost reimbursement based to ensure proper reporting of such awards on the SEFA. Effect The draft 2023 SEFA underreported reimbursement received under this award by $211,026, which has been corrected in the final SEFA included in this report. Audit scoping was not impacted, but could have been if the amount of the award after adjustment exceeded the Type A threshold or resulted in audit coverage over the total SEFA that was no longer sufficient. Questioned Costs There are no questioned costs associated with this finding. Recommendation Sunset Park should continue to review all award terms to understand the grant’s reimbursement and reporting structure. For awards that are not cost reimbursement based, Sunset Park should implement a control to review activity under the award at least annually and ensure that amounts reported on the SEFA correlate to the allowable activities ultimately reimbursed by the granting agency.
Federal program: U.S. Department of the Treasury; Passed-through Illinois Department of Public Health-ALN 21.027, COVID-19 Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds. Criteria: In accordance with 2 CFR 200 200.510(b), the auditee must prepare a Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA) for the period covered by the auditee's financial statements which must include the total federal awards expended as determined in accordance with 2 CFR 200.502. Condition: The Medical Center's SEFA for the year ended August 31, 2023, which is supplementary information to the Medical Center's financial statements, was restated to include an additional $2,000,000 of federal expenditures for the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds, Assistance Listing Number 21.027. Management's processes and internal controls for ensuring that all federal funds expended by the Medical Center are captured and reported in the SEFA were inadquate to detect the omission of the $2,000,000 of federal expenditures. Context: The additional $2,000,000 of federal expenditures increased the total federal expenditures for the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds, Assistance Listing Number 21.027 to $2,899,890. This resulted in the reissuance of the single audit report. Cause: The additional federal program expenditures for the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds, Assistance Listing Number 21.027, were provided under a separate pass-through grant and were inadvertently omitted from the SEFA due to an oversight in the preparation of the SEFA resulting in part from and coinciding with the turnover of key personnel involved with and having oversight over the $2,000,000 award. Effect: Improper reporting of federal expenditures can result in material errors on the SEFA leading to inaccurate major program determination. In this instance an error did result in the identification of an additional major program. Repeat finding: No. Recommendation: We recommend that management enhance its process and internal controls around the timely identification of federal awards and preparation of the SEFA to ensure completeness and accuracy of the SEFA. Views of responsible officials of the auditee: Management agrees with the finding and the auditor's recommendation.
Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program Part A SEFA reporting Federal Agency: Department of Health and Human Services Program: HIV Emergency Relief Project Grants (Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program Part A) Assistance Listing #: 93.914 Criteria OMB Uniform Guidance 2 CFR 200.510(b)(3) requires that the auditee provide the Federal awards expended for each individual Federal program on the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA). In accordance with 2 CFR 200.502, the determination of when a Federal award is expended, and thereby reported on the SEFA, is generally based on when the activity related to the Federal award occurs. Condition The Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program Part A reimburses award recipients based on the number of units of care coordination services provided to eligible patients plus reimbursement for program deliverables coordinated by the recipient. Sunset Park tracked expenditures for SEFA reporting purposes on the basis of care coordinator salary expenses incurred, rather than on the reimbursement received from the passthrough sponsor. As a result, expenditures reported on the draft 2023 SEFA were understated. This has been corrected by management in the final SEFA included in this report. There was no impact on our audit scoping given this award was already included as a major program. Cause Sunset Park did not have a process in place to identify awards that are not cost reimbursement based to ensure proper reporting of such awards on the SEFA. Effect The draft 2023 SEFA underreported reimbursement received under this award by $211,026, which has been corrected in the final SEFA included in this report. Audit scoping was not impacted, but could have been if the amount of the award after adjustment exceeded the Type A threshold or resulted in audit coverage over the total SEFA that was no longer sufficient. Questioned Costs There are no questioned costs associated with this finding. Recommendation Sunset Park should continue to review all award terms to understand the grant’s reimbursement and reporting structure. For awards that are not cost reimbursement based, Sunset Park should implement a control to review activity under the award at least annually and ensure that amounts reported on the SEFA correlate to the allowable activities ultimately reimbursed by the granting agency.
Federal program: U.S. Department of the Treasury; Passed-through Illinois Department of Public Health-ALN 21.027, COVID-19 Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds. Criteria: In accordance with 2 CFR 200 200.510(b), the auditee must prepare a Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA) for the period covered by the auditee's financial statements which must include the total federal awards expended as determined in accordance with 2 CFR 200.502. Condition: The Medical Center's SEFA for the year ended August 31, 2023, which is supplementary information to the Medical Center's financial statements, was restated to include an additional $2,000,000 of federal expenditures for the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds, Assistance Listing Number 21.027. Management's processes and internal controls for ensuring that all federal funds expended by the Medical Center are captured and reported in the SEFA were inadquate to detect the omission of the $2,000,000 of federal expenditures. Context: The additional $2,000,000 of federal expenditures increased the total federal expenditures for the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds, Assistance Listing Number 21.027 to $2,899,890. This resulted in the reissuance of the single audit report. Cause: The additional federal program expenditures for the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds, Assistance Listing Number 21.027, were provided under a separate pass-through grant and were inadvertently omitted from the SEFA due to an oversight in the preparation of the SEFA resulting in part from and coinciding with the turnover of key personnel involved with and having oversight over the $2,000,000 award. Effect: Improper reporting of federal expenditures can result in material errors on the SEFA leading to inaccurate major program determination. In this instance an error did result in the identification of an additional major program. Repeat finding: No. Recommendation: We recommend that management enhance its process and internal controls around the timely identification of federal awards and preparation of the SEFA to ensure completeness and accuracy of the SEFA. Views of responsible officials of the auditee: Management agrees with the finding and the auditor's recommendation.
Internal Control Impact: Materail weakness. Repeat Finding: No. Questioned Costs: No. Criteria: 2 CFR section 200.510(b) requires the auditee to prepare a Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA) that must contain all federal awards expended during the period. 2 CFR section 200.502 requires proper tracking and accounting of federal expenditures incurred under the same basis of accounting as the basic financial statements to ensure proper cutoff and reporting. Condition: The School did not adequately track its expenditures of federal awards and did not prepare a complete SEFA as of the year end. Cause: The School did not have an adequate process to track expenditures of federal awards. This resulted in the School not being aware that they had expended more than $750,000 of federal awards during the year and would be subject to the Uniform Guidance. Effect: Failure to adequately track expenditures of federal awards could result in the SEFA being prepared inaccurately or in an untimely manner. Recommendation: Marshall Jones recommends that the School establish a process to track the expenditures of federal awards during the year. This will help the School to be aware of crossing the Uniform Guidance threshold, enabling the School to prepare the SEFA accurately and timely. Views of Responsible Officials: Management of the School concurs with the finding. Please refer to the Corrective Action Plan.
2023-003 Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA) Preparation Federal Program Information: Funding agency: All Title: All CFDA number: All Award year and number: 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 Criteria or Specific Requirement: In accordance with the Uniform Guidance (2 CFR Section 200.510(b)), the auditee should identify all federal awards received and prepare a SEFA for the period under audit. The information contained in the SEFA shall be derived from, and relate directly to, the underlying accounting and other records used to prepare the financial statements. Expenditures should include only those which are both allowable and within the grant award. Grant reimbursement requests should be done monthly. Condition: The initial information provided for the audit was unreconciled and contained overspending in several grant funds that could not be requested due to grant limitations. Many funds included in the SEFA had to be adjusted, some by material amounts to bring expenditures down to requestable levels, and during the process, it was noted that at least one fund carried an accounts receivable balance which had not been requested. Layered in that balance was at least three years’ worth of unrequested funds causing District staff to have to work with the state to shift expenditures into the appropriate grant years to recover all amounts owed and spent by the District. Context: As part of our review of the SEFA, and during our testing over accounts receivable and revenues, Wipfli found that grant requests were often done once or twice a year rather than monthly, and amounts requested did not line up with accounts receivable as shown in the financial statements. Although there was no evidence of unallowable expenditures being charged to the funds, the fact that funds were over-expended and in excess of budget suggests that the budget is not driving expenditures and regular reconciliation and review is not happening. Questioned Costs: None Effect: The District staff and auditors had to spend additional time reviewing historical information and adjusting the classification of expenditures, often to the general fund, to keep grant funds in line with available grant amounts. This resulted in significant adjustments to the general fund for expenditures that were not likely budgeted in the current year. Cause: The District was not reconciling federal spending with available funding, requests for reimbursement were not timely, and the internal controls over review and spending do not appear to be functioning adequately. See also finding 2023-002. Repeat: No Auditor's Recommendation: Wipfli recommends continued training and timely requests for reimbursement for all applicable federal funds. In addition, regular review of budget and actual, district needs, and changes since the budget was set are integral to having an awareness of the funds and potential issues before they arise. By resetting the procedures of the District and completing these tasks, the reporting of the District will improve, and forward planning and preparation will improve. View of Responsible Official: The District will strive for monthly requests for reimbursement for all applicable federal funds, thus creating awareness of the funds and potential issues before they arise.
2023-003 Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA) Preparation Federal Program Information: Funding agency: All Title: All CFDA number: All Award year and number: 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 Criteria or Specific Requirement: In accordance with the Uniform Guidance (2 CFR Section 200.510(b)), the auditee should identify all federal awards received and prepare a SEFA for the period under audit. The information contained in the SEFA shall be derived from, and relate directly to, the underlying accounting and other records used to prepare the financial statements. Expenditures should include only those which are both allowable and within the grant award. Grant reimbursement requests should be done monthly. Condition: The initial information provided for the audit was unreconciled and contained overspending in several grant funds that could not be requested due to grant limitations. Many funds included in the SEFA had to be adjusted, some by material amounts to bring expenditures down to requestable levels, and during the process, it was noted that at least one fund carried an accounts receivable balance which had not been requested. Layered in that balance was at least three years’ worth of unrequested funds causing District staff to have to work with the state to shift expenditures into the appropriate grant years to recover all amounts owed and spent by the District. Context: As part of our review of the SEFA, and during our testing over accounts receivable and revenues, Wipfli found that grant requests were often done once or twice a year rather than monthly, and amounts requested did not line up with accounts receivable as shown in the financial statements. Although there was no evidence of unallowable expenditures being charged to the funds, the fact that funds were over-expended and in excess of budget suggests that the budget is not driving expenditures and regular reconciliation and review is not happening. Questioned Costs: None Effect: The District staff and auditors had to spend additional time reviewing historical information and adjusting the classification of expenditures, often to the general fund, to keep grant funds in line with available grant amounts. This resulted in significant adjustments to the general fund for expenditures that were not likely budgeted in the current year. Cause: The District was not reconciling federal spending with available funding, requests for reimbursement were not timely, and the internal controls over review and spending do not appear to be functioning adequately. See also finding 2023-002. Repeat: No Auditor's Recommendation: Wipfli recommends continued training and timely requests for reimbursement for all applicable federal funds. In addition, regular review of budget and actual, district needs, and changes since the budget was set are integral to having an awareness of the funds and potential issues before they arise. By resetting the procedures of the District and completing these tasks, the reporting of the District will improve, and forward planning and preparation will improve. View of Responsible Official: The District will strive for monthly requests for reimbursement for all applicable federal funds, thus creating awareness of the funds and potential issues before they arise.
2023-003 Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA) Preparation Federal Program Information: Funding agency: All Title: All CFDA number: All Award year and number: 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 Criteria or Specific Requirement: In accordance with the Uniform Guidance (2 CFR Section 200.510(b)), the auditee should identify all federal awards received and prepare a SEFA for the period under audit. The information contained in the SEFA shall be derived from, and relate directly to, the underlying accounting and other records used to prepare the financial statements. Expenditures should include only those which are both allowable and within the grant award. Grant reimbursement requests should be done monthly. Condition: The initial information provided for the audit was unreconciled and contained overspending in several grant funds that could not be requested due to grant limitations. Many funds included in the SEFA had to be adjusted, some by material amounts to bring expenditures down to requestable levels, and during the process, it was noted that at least one fund carried an accounts receivable balance which had not been requested. Layered in that balance was at least three years’ worth of unrequested funds causing District staff to have to work with the state to shift expenditures into the appropriate grant years to recover all amounts owed and spent by the District. Context: As part of our review of the SEFA, and during our testing over accounts receivable and revenues, Wipfli found that grant requests were often done once or twice a year rather than monthly, and amounts requested did not line up with accounts receivable as shown in the financial statements. Although there was no evidence of unallowable expenditures being charged to the funds, the fact that funds were over-expended and in excess of budget suggests that the budget is not driving expenditures and regular reconciliation and review is not happening. Questioned Costs: None Effect: The District staff and auditors had to spend additional time reviewing historical information and adjusting the classification of expenditures, often to the general fund, to keep grant funds in line with available grant amounts. This resulted in significant adjustments to the general fund for expenditures that were not likely budgeted in the current year. Cause: The District was not reconciling federal spending with available funding, requests for reimbursement were not timely, and the internal controls over review and spending do not appear to be functioning adequately. See also finding 2023-002. Repeat: No Auditor's Recommendation: Wipfli recommends continued training and timely requests for reimbursement for all applicable federal funds. In addition, regular review of budget and actual, district needs, and changes since the budget was set are integral to having an awareness of the funds and potential issues before they arise. By resetting the procedures of the District and completing these tasks, the reporting of the District will improve, and forward planning and preparation will improve. View of Responsible Official: The District will strive for monthly requests for reimbursement for all applicable federal funds, thus creating awareness of the funds and potential issues before they arise.
2023-003 Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA) Preparation Federal Program Information: Funding agency: All Title: All CFDA number: All Award year and number: 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 Criteria or Specific Requirement: In accordance with the Uniform Guidance (2 CFR Section 200.510(b)), the auditee should identify all federal awards received and prepare a SEFA for the period under audit. The information contained in the SEFA shall be derived from, and relate directly to, the underlying accounting and other records used to prepare the financial statements. Expenditures should include only those which are both allowable and within the grant award. Grant reimbursement requests should be done monthly. Condition: The initial information provided for the audit was unreconciled and contained overspending in several grant funds that could not be requested due to grant limitations. Many funds included in the SEFA had to be adjusted, some by material amounts to bring expenditures down to requestable levels, and during the process, it was noted that at least one fund carried an accounts receivable balance which had not been requested. Layered in that balance was at least three years’ worth of unrequested funds causing District staff to have to work with the state to shift expenditures into the appropriate grant years to recover all amounts owed and spent by the District. Context: As part of our review of the SEFA, and during our testing over accounts receivable and revenues, Wipfli found that grant requests were often done once or twice a year rather than monthly, and amounts requested did not line up with accounts receivable as shown in the financial statements. Although there was no evidence of unallowable expenditures being charged to the funds, the fact that funds were over-expended and in excess of budget suggests that the budget is not driving expenditures and regular reconciliation and review is not happening. Questioned Costs: None Effect: The District staff and auditors had to spend additional time reviewing historical information and adjusting the classification of expenditures, often to the general fund, to keep grant funds in line with available grant amounts. This resulted in significant adjustments to the general fund for expenditures that were not likely budgeted in the current year. Cause: The District was not reconciling federal spending with available funding, requests for reimbursement were not timely, and the internal controls over review and spending do not appear to be functioning adequately. See also finding 2023-002. Repeat: No Auditor's Recommendation: Wipfli recommends continued training and timely requests for reimbursement for all applicable federal funds. In addition, regular review of budget and actual, district needs, and changes since the budget was set are integral to having an awareness of the funds and potential issues before they arise. By resetting the procedures of the District and completing these tasks, the reporting of the District will improve, and forward planning and preparation will improve. View of Responsible Official: The District will strive for monthly requests for reimbursement for all applicable federal funds, thus creating awareness of the funds and potential issues before they arise.
2023-003 Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA) Preparation Federal Program Information: Funding agency: All Title: All CFDA number: All Award year and number: 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 Criteria or Specific Requirement: In accordance with the Uniform Guidance (2 CFR Section 200.510(b)), the auditee should identify all federal awards received and prepare a SEFA for the period under audit. The information contained in the SEFA shall be derived from, and relate directly to, the underlying accounting and other records used to prepare the financial statements. Expenditures should include only those which are both allowable and within the grant award. Grant reimbursement requests should be done monthly. Condition: The initial information provided for the audit was unreconciled and contained overspending in several grant funds that could not be requested due to grant limitations. Many funds included in the SEFA had to be adjusted, some by material amounts to bring expenditures down to requestable levels, and during the process, it was noted that at least one fund carried an accounts receivable balance which had not been requested. Layered in that balance was at least three years’ worth of unrequested funds causing District staff to have to work with the state to shift expenditures into the appropriate grant years to recover all amounts owed and spent by the District. Context: As part of our review of the SEFA, and during our testing over accounts receivable and revenues, Wipfli found that grant requests were often done once or twice a year rather than monthly, and amounts requested did not line up with accounts receivable as shown in the financial statements. Although there was no evidence of unallowable expenditures being charged to the funds, the fact that funds were over-expended and in excess of budget suggests that the budget is not driving expenditures and regular reconciliation and review is not happening. Questioned Costs: None Effect: The District staff and auditors had to spend additional time reviewing historical information and adjusting the classification of expenditures, often to the general fund, to keep grant funds in line with available grant amounts. This resulted in significant adjustments to the general fund for expenditures that were not likely budgeted in the current year. Cause: The District was not reconciling federal spending with available funding, requests for reimbursement were not timely, and the internal controls over review and spending do not appear to be functioning adequately. See also finding 2023-002. Repeat: No Auditor's Recommendation: Wipfli recommends continued training and timely requests for reimbursement for all applicable federal funds. In addition, regular review of budget and actual, district needs, and changes since the budget was set are integral to having an awareness of the funds and potential issues before they arise. By resetting the procedures of the District and completing these tasks, the reporting of the District will improve, and forward planning and preparation will improve. View of Responsible Official: The District will strive for monthly requests for reimbursement for all applicable federal funds, thus creating awareness of the funds and potential issues before they arise.
2023-003 Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA) Preparation Federal Program Information: Funding agency: All Title: All CFDA number: All Award year and number: 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 Criteria or Specific Requirement: In accordance with the Uniform Guidance (2 CFR Section 200.510(b)), the auditee should identify all federal awards received and prepare a SEFA for the period under audit. The information contained in the SEFA shall be derived from, and relate directly to, the underlying accounting and other records used to prepare the financial statements. Expenditures should include only those which are both allowable and within the grant award. Grant reimbursement requests should be done monthly. Condition: The initial information provided for the audit was unreconciled and contained overspending in several grant funds that could not be requested due to grant limitations. Many funds included in the SEFA had to be adjusted, some by material amounts to bring expenditures down to requestable levels, and during the process, it was noted that at least one fund carried an accounts receivable balance which had not been requested. Layered in that balance was at least three years’ worth of unrequested funds causing District staff to have to work with the state to shift expenditures into the appropriate grant years to recover all amounts owed and spent by the District. Context: As part of our review of the SEFA, and during our testing over accounts receivable and revenues, Wipfli found that grant requests were often done once or twice a year rather than monthly, and amounts requested did not line up with accounts receivable as shown in the financial statements. Although there was no evidence of unallowable expenditures being charged to the funds, the fact that funds were over-expended and in excess of budget suggests that the budget is not driving expenditures and regular reconciliation and review is not happening. Questioned Costs: None Effect: The District staff and auditors had to spend additional time reviewing historical information and adjusting the classification of expenditures, often to the general fund, to keep grant funds in line with available grant amounts. This resulted in significant adjustments to the general fund for expenditures that were not likely budgeted in the current year. Cause: The District was not reconciling federal spending with available funding, requests for reimbursement were not timely, and the internal controls over review and spending do not appear to be functioning adequately. See also finding 2023-002. Repeat: No Auditor's Recommendation: Wipfli recommends continued training and timely requests for reimbursement for all applicable federal funds. In addition, regular review of budget and actual, district needs, and changes since the budget was set are integral to having an awareness of the funds and potential issues before they arise. By resetting the procedures of the District and completing these tasks, the reporting of the District will improve, and forward planning and preparation will improve. View of Responsible Official: The District will strive for monthly requests for reimbursement for all applicable federal funds, thus creating awareness of the funds and potential issues before they arise.
2023-003 Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA) Preparation Federal Program Information: Funding agency: All Title: All CFDA number: All Award year and number: 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 Criteria or Specific Requirement: In accordance with the Uniform Guidance (2 CFR Section 200.510(b)), the auditee should identify all federal awards received and prepare a SEFA for the period under audit. The information contained in the SEFA shall be derived from, and relate directly to, the underlying accounting and other records used to prepare the financial statements. Expenditures should include only those which are both allowable and within the grant award. Grant reimbursement requests should be done monthly. Condition: The initial information provided for the audit was unreconciled and contained overspending in several grant funds that could not be requested due to grant limitations. Many funds included in the SEFA had to be adjusted, some by material amounts to bring expenditures down to requestable levels, and during the process, it was noted that at least one fund carried an accounts receivable balance which had not been requested. Layered in that balance was at least three years’ worth of unrequested funds causing District staff to have to work with the state to shift expenditures into the appropriate grant years to recover all amounts owed and spent by the District. Context: As part of our review of the SEFA, and during our testing over accounts receivable and revenues, Wipfli found that grant requests were often done once or twice a year rather than monthly, and amounts requested did not line up with accounts receivable as shown in the financial statements. Although there was no evidence of unallowable expenditures being charged to the funds, the fact that funds were over-expended and in excess of budget suggests that the budget is not driving expenditures and regular reconciliation and review is not happening. Questioned Costs: None Effect: The District staff and auditors had to spend additional time reviewing historical information and adjusting the classification of expenditures, often to the general fund, to keep grant funds in line with available grant amounts. This resulted in significant adjustments to the general fund for expenditures that were not likely budgeted in the current year. Cause: The District was not reconciling federal spending with available funding, requests for reimbursement were not timely, and the internal controls over review and spending do not appear to be functioning adequately. See also finding 2023-002. Repeat: No Auditor's Recommendation: Wipfli recommends continued training and timely requests for reimbursement for all applicable federal funds. In addition, regular review of budget and actual, district needs, and changes since the budget was set are integral to having an awareness of the funds and potential issues before they arise. By resetting the procedures of the District and completing these tasks, the reporting of the District will improve, and forward planning and preparation will improve. View of Responsible Official: The District will strive for monthly requests for reimbursement for all applicable federal funds, thus creating awareness of the funds and potential issues before they arise.
Internal Controls over Compliance and Other Matters Identification of Federal Funds for Purposes of Assembling the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA) – Other ALL FEDERAL PROGRAMS IDENTIFIED ON THE SEFA Criteria: Per 2 CFR 200.510(b) Schedule of expenditures of Federal awards (SEFA), “the auditee must prepare a schedule of expenditures of Federal awards for the period covered by the auditee's financial statements which must include the total Federal awards expended as determined in accordance with 2 CFR 200.502, Basis for determining Federal awards expended. While the auditor is able to assist with SEFA preparation, management remains responsible for identifying all federal expenditures to enable the preparation of a complete and accurate SEFA. Condition: Management was unable to provide a complete listing of federal expenditures at the start of audit fieldwork. Cause: Internal controls were not in place to require a final review of the listing of federal expenditures by the Director of Finance prior to audit fieldwork when the listing was prepared by another staff person. Questioned Costs: None. Effect: By not having proper controls over SEFA preparation at the beginning of the audit, there is a risk that the SEFA will not reflect all the federal awards subject to the Uniform Guidance, which could lead to an incorrect major program determination and a substandard single audit. Context: We requested that the Organization provide a list of all federal expenditures at the start of audit fieldwork. During the audit, we detected federal expenditures that were not identified by the Organization as federal. Additionally, the Organization identified federal expenditures during their review of the draft financial statements, which were previously not identified as federal. identified as federal. Identification of Repeat Finding: Not a repeat finding. Recommendation: We recommend that Minnesota Land Trust implement internal controls to ensure there is an adequate communication and review process in place to capture all federal awards expended at the correct amounts in accordance with the criteria above. Views of Responsible Officials and Corrective Action Plan: The Minnesota Land Trust has internal controls to ensure that federal expenditures are accurately identified and reviewed. We will add additional internal controls to ensure a complete listing of federal expenditures is easy to provide and that the listing is reviewed by the Finance Department prior to audit fieldwork.
Internal Controls over Compliance and Other Matters Identification of Federal Funds for Purposes of Assembling the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA) – Other ALL FEDERAL PROGRAMS IDENTIFIED ON THE SEFA Criteria: Per 2 CFR 200.510(b) Schedule of expenditures of Federal awards (SEFA), “the auditee must prepare a schedule of expenditures of Federal awards for the period covered by the auditee's financial statements which must include the total Federal awards expended as determined in accordance with 2 CFR 200.502, Basis for determining Federal awards expended. While the auditor is able to assist with SEFA preparation, management remains responsible for identifying all federal expenditures to enable the preparation of a complete and accurate SEFA. Condition: Management was unable to provide a complete listing of federal expenditures at the start of audit fieldwork. Cause: Internal controls were not in place to require a final review of the listing of federal expenditures by the Director of Finance prior to audit fieldwork when the listing was prepared by another staff person. Questioned Costs: None. Effect: By not having proper controls over SEFA preparation at the beginning of the audit, there is a risk that the SEFA will not reflect all the federal awards subject to the Uniform Guidance, which could lead to an incorrect major program determination and a substandard single audit. Context: We requested that the Organization provide a list of all federal expenditures at the start of audit fieldwork. During the audit, we detected federal expenditures that were not identified by the Organization as federal. Additionally, the Organization identified federal expenditures during their review of the draft financial statements, which were previously not identified as federal. identified as federal. Identification of Repeat Finding: Not a repeat finding. Recommendation: We recommend that Minnesota Land Trust implement internal controls to ensure there is an adequate communication and review process in place to capture all federal awards expended at the correct amounts in accordance with the criteria above. Views of Responsible Officials and Corrective Action Plan: The Minnesota Land Trust has internal controls to ensure that federal expenditures are accurately identified and reviewed. We will add additional internal controls to ensure a complete listing of federal expenditures is easy to provide and that the listing is reviewed by the Finance Department prior to audit fieldwork.
Internal Controls over Compliance and Other Matters Identification of Federal Funds for Purposes of Assembling the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA) – Other ALL FEDERAL PROGRAMS IDENTIFIED ON THE SEFA Criteria: Per 2 CFR 200.510(b) Schedule of expenditures of Federal awards (SEFA), “the auditee must prepare a schedule of expenditures of Federal awards for the period covered by the auditee's financial statements which must include the total Federal awards expended as determined in accordance with 2 CFR 200.502, Basis for determining Federal awards expended. While the auditor is able to assist with SEFA preparation, management remains responsible for identifying all federal expenditures to enable the preparation of a complete and accurate SEFA. Condition: Management was unable to provide a complete listing of federal expenditures at the start of audit fieldwork. Cause: Internal controls were not in place to require a final review of the listing of federal expenditures by the Director of Finance prior to audit fieldwork when the listing was prepared by another staff person. Questioned Costs: None. Effect: By not having proper controls over SEFA preparation at the beginning of the audit, there is a risk that the SEFA will not reflect all the federal awards subject to the Uniform Guidance, which could lead to an incorrect major program determination and a substandard single audit. Context: We requested that the Organization provide a list of all federal expenditures at the start of audit fieldwork. During the audit, we detected federal expenditures that were not identified by the Organization as federal. Additionally, the Organization identified federal expenditures during their review of the draft financial statements, which were previously not identified as federal. identified as federal. Identification of Repeat Finding: Not a repeat finding. Recommendation: We recommend that Minnesota Land Trust implement internal controls to ensure there is an adequate communication and review process in place to capture all federal awards expended at the correct amounts in accordance with the criteria above. Views of Responsible Officials and Corrective Action Plan: The Minnesota Land Trust has internal controls to ensure that federal expenditures are accurately identified and reviewed. We will add additional internal controls to ensure a complete listing of federal expenditures is easy to provide and that the listing is reviewed by the Finance Department prior to audit fieldwork.
Internal Controls over Compliance and Other Matters Identification of Federal Funds for Purposes of Assembling the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA) – Other ALL FEDERAL PROGRAMS IDENTIFIED ON THE SEFA Criteria: Per 2 CFR 200.510(b) Schedule of expenditures of Federal awards (SEFA), “the auditee must prepare a schedule of expenditures of Federal awards for the period covered by the auditee's financial statements which must include the total Federal awards expended as determined in accordance with 2 CFR 200.502, Basis for determining Federal awards expended. While the auditor is able to assist with SEFA preparation, management remains responsible for identifying all federal expenditures to enable the preparation of a complete and accurate SEFA. Condition: Management was unable to provide a complete listing of federal expenditures at the start of audit fieldwork. Cause: Internal controls were not in place to require a final review of the listing of federal expenditures by the Director of Finance prior to audit fieldwork when the listing was prepared by another staff person. Questioned Costs: None. Effect: By not having proper controls over SEFA preparation at the beginning of the audit, there is a risk that the SEFA will not reflect all the federal awards subject to the Uniform Guidance, which could lead to an incorrect major program determination and a substandard single audit. Context: We requested that the Organization provide a list of all federal expenditures at the start of audit fieldwork. During the audit, we detected federal expenditures that were not identified by the Organization as federal. Additionally, the Organization identified federal expenditures during their review of the draft financial statements, which were previously not identified as federal. identified as federal. Identification of Repeat Finding: Not a repeat finding. Recommendation: We recommend that Minnesota Land Trust implement internal controls to ensure there is an adequate communication and review process in place to capture all federal awards expended at the correct amounts in accordance with the criteria above. Views of Responsible Officials and Corrective Action Plan: The Minnesota Land Trust has internal controls to ensure that federal expenditures are accurately identified and reviewed. We will add additional internal controls to ensure a complete listing of federal expenditures is easy to provide and that the listing is reviewed by the Finance Department prior to audit fieldwork.
Internal Controls over Compliance and Other Matters Identification of Federal Funds for Purposes of Assembling the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA) – Other ALL FEDERAL PROGRAMS IDENTIFIED ON THE SEFA Criteria: Per 2 CFR 200.510(b) Schedule of expenditures of Federal awards (SEFA), “the auditee must prepare a schedule of expenditures of Federal awards for the period covered by the auditee's financial statements which must include the total Federal awards expended as determined in accordance with 2 CFR 200.502, Basis for determining Federal awards expended. While the auditor is able to assist with SEFA preparation, management remains responsible for identifying all federal expenditures to enable the preparation of a complete and accurate SEFA. Condition: Management was unable to provide a complete listing of federal expenditures at the start of audit fieldwork. Cause: Internal controls were not in place to require a final review of the listing of federal expenditures by the Director of Finance prior to audit fieldwork when the listing was prepared by another staff person. Questioned Costs: None. Effect: By not having proper controls over SEFA preparation at the beginning of the audit, there is a risk that the SEFA will not reflect all the federal awards subject to the Uniform Guidance, which could lead to an incorrect major program determination and a substandard single audit. Context: We requested that the Organization provide a list of all federal expenditures at the start of audit fieldwork. During the audit, we detected federal expenditures that were not identified by the Organization as federal. Additionally, the Organization identified federal expenditures during their review of the draft financial statements, which were previously not identified as federal. identified as federal. Identification of Repeat Finding: Not a repeat finding. Recommendation: We recommend that Minnesota Land Trust implement internal controls to ensure there is an adequate communication and review process in place to capture all federal awards expended at the correct amounts in accordance with the criteria above. Views of Responsible Officials and Corrective Action Plan: The Minnesota Land Trust has internal controls to ensure that federal expenditures are accurately identified and reviewed. We will add additional internal controls to ensure a complete listing of federal expenditures is easy to provide and that the listing is reviewed by the Finance Department prior to audit fieldwork.
Internal Controls over Compliance and Other Matters Identification of Federal Funds for Purposes of Assembling the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA) – Other ALL FEDERAL PROGRAMS IDENTIFIED ON THE SEFA Criteria: Per 2 CFR 200.510(b) Schedule of expenditures of Federal awards (SEFA), “the auditee must prepare a schedule of expenditures of Federal awards for the period covered by the auditee's financial statements which must include the total Federal awards expended as determined in accordance with 2 CFR 200.502, Basis for determining Federal awards expended. While the auditor is able to assist with SEFA preparation, management remains responsible for identifying all federal expenditures to enable the preparation of a complete and accurate SEFA. Condition: Management was unable to provide a complete listing of federal expenditures at the start of audit fieldwork. Cause: Internal controls were not in place to require a final review of the listing of federal expenditures by the Director of Finance prior to audit fieldwork when the listing was prepared by another staff person. Questioned Costs: None. Effect: By not having proper controls over SEFA preparation at the beginning of the audit, there is a risk that the SEFA will not reflect all the federal awards subject to the Uniform Guidance, which could lead to an incorrect major program determination and a substandard single audit. Context: We requested that the Organization provide a list of all federal expenditures at the start of audit fieldwork. During the audit, we detected federal expenditures that were not identified by the Organization as federal. Additionally, the Organization identified federal expenditures during their review of the draft financial statements, which were previously not identified as federal. identified as federal. Identification of Repeat Finding: Not a repeat finding. Recommendation: We recommend that Minnesota Land Trust implement internal controls to ensure there is an adequate communication and review process in place to capture all federal awards expended at the correct amounts in accordance with the criteria above. Views of Responsible Officials and Corrective Action Plan: The Minnesota Land Trust has internal controls to ensure that federal expenditures are accurately identified and reviewed. We will add additional internal controls to ensure a complete listing of federal expenditures is easy to provide and that the listing is reviewed by the Finance Department prior to audit fieldwork.
Internal Controls over Compliance and Other Matters Identification of Federal Funds for Purposes of Assembling the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA) – Other ALL FEDERAL PROGRAMS IDENTIFIED ON THE SEFA Criteria: Per 2 CFR 200.510(b) Schedule of expenditures of Federal awards (SEFA), “the auditee must prepare a schedule of expenditures of Federal awards for the period covered by the auditee's financial statements which must include the total Federal awards expended as determined in accordance with 2 CFR 200.502, Basis for determining Federal awards expended. While the auditor is able to assist with SEFA preparation, management remains responsible for identifying all federal expenditures to enable the preparation of a complete and accurate SEFA. Condition: Management was unable to provide a complete listing of federal expenditures at the start of audit fieldwork. Cause: Internal controls were not in place to require a final review of the listing of federal expenditures by the Director of Finance prior to audit fieldwork when the listing was prepared by another staff person. Questioned Costs: None. Effect: By not having proper controls over SEFA preparation at the beginning of the audit, there is a risk that the SEFA will not reflect all the federal awards subject to the Uniform Guidance, which could lead to an incorrect major program determination and a substandard single audit. Context: We requested that the Organization provide a list of all federal expenditures at the start of audit fieldwork. During the audit, we detected federal expenditures that were not identified by the Organization as federal. Additionally, the Organization identified federal expenditures during their review of the draft financial statements, which were previously not identified as federal. identified as federal. Identification of Repeat Finding: Not a repeat finding. Recommendation: We recommend that Minnesota Land Trust implement internal controls to ensure there is an adequate communication and review process in place to capture all federal awards expended at the correct amounts in accordance with the criteria above. Views of Responsible Officials and Corrective Action Plan: The Minnesota Land Trust has internal controls to ensure that federal expenditures are accurately identified and reviewed. We will add additional internal controls to ensure a complete listing of federal expenditures is easy to provide and that the listing is reviewed by the Finance Department prior to audit fieldwork.
Internal Controls over Compliance and Other Matters Identification of Federal Funds for Purposes of Assembling the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA) – Other ALL FEDERAL PROGRAMS IDENTIFIED ON THE SEFA Criteria: Per 2 CFR 200.510(b) Schedule of expenditures of Federal awards (SEFA), “the auditee must prepare a schedule of expenditures of Federal awards for the period covered by the auditee's financial statements which must include the total Federal awards expended as determined in accordance with 2 CFR 200.502, Basis for determining Federal awards expended. While the auditor is able to assist with SEFA preparation, management remains responsible for identifying all federal expenditures to enable the preparation of a complete and accurate SEFA. Condition: Management was unable to provide a complete listing of federal expenditures at the start of audit fieldwork. Cause: Internal controls were not in place to require a final review of the listing of federal expenditures by the Director of Finance prior to audit fieldwork when the listing was prepared by another staff person. Questioned Costs: None. Effect: By not having proper controls over SEFA preparation at the beginning of the audit, there is a risk that the SEFA will not reflect all the federal awards subject to the Uniform Guidance, which could lead to an incorrect major program determination and a substandard single audit. Context: We requested that the Organization provide a list of all federal expenditures at the start of audit fieldwork. During the audit, we detected federal expenditures that were not identified by the Organization as federal. Additionally, the Organization identified federal expenditures during their review of the draft financial statements, which were previously not identified as federal. identified as federal. Identification of Repeat Finding: Not a repeat finding. Recommendation: We recommend that Minnesota Land Trust implement internal controls to ensure there is an adequate communication and review process in place to capture all federal awards expended at the correct amounts in accordance with the criteria above. Views of Responsible Officials and Corrective Action Plan: The Minnesota Land Trust has internal controls to ensure that federal expenditures are accurately identified and reviewed. We will add additional internal controls to ensure a complete listing of federal expenditures is easy to provide and that the listing is reviewed by the Finance Department prior to audit fieldwork.
Internal Controls over Compliance and Other Matters Identification of Federal Funds for Purposes of Assembling the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA) – Other ALL FEDERAL PROGRAMS IDENTIFIED ON THE SEFA Criteria: Per 2 CFR 200.510(b) Schedule of expenditures of Federal awards (SEFA), “the auditee must prepare a schedule of expenditures of Federal awards for the period covered by the auditee's financial statements which must include the total Federal awards expended as determined in accordance with 2 CFR 200.502, Basis for determining Federal awards expended. While the auditor is able to assist with SEFA preparation, management remains responsible for identifying all federal expenditures to enable the preparation of a complete and accurate SEFA. Condition: Management was unable to provide a complete listing of federal expenditures at the start of audit fieldwork. Cause: Internal controls were not in place to require a final review of the listing of federal expenditures by the Director of Finance prior to audit fieldwork when the listing was prepared by another staff person. Questioned Costs: None. Effect: By not having proper controls over SEFA preparation at the beginning of the audit, there is a risk that the SEFA will not reflect all the federal awards subject to the Uniform Guidance, which could lead to an incorrect major program determination and a substandard single audit. Context: We requested that the Organization provide a list of all federal expenditures at the start of audit fieldwork. During the audit, we detected federal expenditures that were not identified by the Organization as federal. Additionally, the Organization identified federal expenditures during their review of the draft financial statements, which were previously not identified as federal. identified as federal. Identification of Repeat Finding: Not a repeat finding. Recommendation: We recommend that Minnesota Land Trust implement internal controls to ensure there is an adequate communication and review process in place to capture all federal awards expended at the correct amounts in accordance with the criteria above. Views of Responsible Officials and Corrective Action Plan: The Minnesota Land Trust has internal controls to ensure that federal expenditures are accurately identified and reviewed. We will add additional internal controls to ensure a complete listing of federal expenditures is easy to provide and that the listing is reviewed by the Finance Department prior to audit fieldwork.
Internal Controls over Compliance and Other Matters Identification of Federal Funds for Purposes of Assembling the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA) – Other ALL FEDERAL PROGRAMS IDENTIFIED ON THE SEFA Criteria: Per 2 CFR 200.510(b) Schedule of expenditures of Federal awards (SEFA), “the auditee must prepare a schedule of expenditures of Federal awards for the period covered by the auditee's financial statements which must include the total Federal awards expended as determined in accordance with 2 CFR 200.502, Basis for determining Federal awards expended. While the auditor is able to assist with SEFA preparation, management remains responsible for identifying all federal expenditures to enable the preparation of a complete and accurate SEFA. Condition: Management was unable to provide a complete listing of federal expenditures at the start of audit fieldwork. Cause: Internal controls were not in place to require a final review of the listing of federal expenditures by the Director of Finance prior to audit fieldwork when the listing was prepared by another staff person. Questioned Costs: None. Effect: By not having proper controls over SEFA preparation at the beginning of the audit, there is a risk that the SEFA will not reflect all the federal awards subject to the Uniform Guidance, which could lead to an incorrect major program determination and a substandard single audit. Context: We requested that the Organization provide a list of all federal expenditures at the start of audit fieldwork. During the audit, we detected federal expenditures that were not identified by the Organization as federal. Additionally, the Organization identified federal expenditures during their review of the draft financial statements, which were previously not identified as federal. identified as federal. Identification of Repeat Finding: Not a repeat finding. Recommendation: We recommend that Minnesota Land Trust implement internal controls to ensure there is an adequate communication and review process in place to capture all federal awards expended at the correct amounts in accordance with the criteria above. Views of Responsible Officials and Corrective Action Plan: The Minnesota Land Trust has internal controls to ensure that federal expenditures are accurately identified and reviewed. We will add additional internal controls to ensure a complete listing of federal expenditures is easy to provide and that the listing is reviewed by the Finance Department prior to audit fieldwork.
Internal Controls over Compliance and Other Matters Identification of Federal Funds for Purposes of Assembling the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA) – Other ALL FEDERAL PROGRAMS IDENTIFIED ON THE SEFA Criteria: Per 2 CFR 200.510(b) Schedule of expenditures of Federal awards (SEFA), “the auditee must prepare a schedule of expenditures of Federal awards for the period covered by the auditee's financial statements which must include the total Federal awards expended as determined in accordance with 2 CFR 200.502, Basis for determining Federal awards expended. While the auditor is able to assist with SEFA preparation, management remains responsible for identifying all federal expenditures to enable the preparation of a complete and accurate SEFA. Condition: Management was unable to provide a complete listing of federal expenditures at the start of audit fieldwork. Cause: Internal controls were not in place to require a final review of the listing of federal expenditures by the Director of Finance prior to audit fieldwork when the listing was prepared by another staff person. Questioned Costs: None. Effect: By not having proper controls over SEFA preparation at the beginning of the audit, there is a risk that the SEFA will not reflect all the federal awards subject to the Uniform Guidance, which could lead to an incorrect major program determination and a substandard single audit. Context: We requested that the Organization provide a list of all federal expenditures at the start of audit fieldwork. During the audit, we detected federal expenditures that were not identified by the Organization as federal. Additionally, the Organization identified federal expenditures during their review of the draft financial statements, which were previously not identified as federal. identified as federal. Identification of Repeat Finding: Not a repeat finding. Recommendation: We recommend that Minnesota Land Trust implement internal controls to ensure there is an adequate communication and review process in place to capture all federal awards expended at the correct amounts in accordance with the criteria above. Views of Responsible Officials and Corrective Action Plan: The Minnesota Land Trust has internal controls to ensure that federal expenditures are accurately identified and reviewed. We will add additional internal controls to ensure a complete listing of federal expenditures is easy to provide and that the listing is reviewed by the Finance Department prior to audit fieldwork.
Failure to inform auditors of the need for a single audit. Federal programs impacted: All ALNs, see SEFA. (General) Questioned Costs: None, NA Condition: The Clinic expended more than $750,000 in federal awards, triggering a single audit requirement and did not bring this to the auditors attention during the audit. The Clininc failed to properly maintain appropriate records to determine the need for a single audit as required by Uniform Guidance. Criteria: 2 CFR section 200.508(b)&(d) states that one responsibility of the auditee is to prepare appropriate financial statements, including the SEFA in accordance with 200.510. Part (d) states they must provide auditor with information as needed to perform the audit required. See also section 99.300(a). Cause: The Clinic did not have proper controls in place to determine the need for a single audit as required by the Uniform Guidance. Effect: Engagement letter and fees had to be reevaluated, and the nature, timing, and extent of the audit were impacted by the additional requirement. Recommendation: We recommend that the Clinic develops and implements policies and procedures to properly prepare the SEFA. Management Response: Management stated they will do a better job of tracking federal expenditures for the next audit year as they do not want to trigger a single audit again knowingly or otherwise and do not want any delays in the audit like this year.
Failure to inform auditors of the need for a single audit. Federal programs impacted: All ALNs, see SEFA. (General) Questioned Costs: None, NA Condition: The Clinic expended more than $750,000 in federal awards, triggering a single audit requirement and did not bring this to the auditors attention during the audit. The Clininc failed to properly maintain appropriate records to determine the need for a single audit as required by Uniform Guidance. Criteria: 2 CFR section 200.508(b)&(d) states that one responsibility of the auditee is to prepare appropriate financial statements, including the SEFA in accordance with 200.510. Part (d) states they must provide auditor with information as needed to perform the audit required. See also section 99.300(a). Cause: The Clinic did not have proper controls in place to determine the need for a single audit as required by the Uniform Guidance. Effect: Engagement letter and fees had to be reevaluated, and the nature, timing, and extent of the audit were impacted by the additional requirement. Recommendation: We recommend that the Clinic develops and implements policies and procedures to properly prepare the SEFA. Management Response: Management stated they will do a better job of tracking federal expenditures for the next audit year as they do not want to trigger a single audit again knowingly or otherwise and do not want any delays in the audit like this year.
Finding 2023-001: SEFA – Material Weakness Criteria: U.S. Code § 200.508(b) states that an auditee must prepare appropriate financial statements, including the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA) in accordance with § 200.510. U.S. Code § 200.510(b)(3) states that at a minimum the SEFA provide total Federal awards expended for each individual Federal program and the Assistance Listings Number or other identifying number when the Assistance Listings information is not available. For a cluster of programs also provide the total for the cluster. The inclusion of correct Assistance Listing numbers on the SEFA is a critical factor in determining major and non-major programs and designing appropriate audit procedures for individual grants. Condition: The SEFA prepared by management included an incorrect Assistance Listing (AL) number for one grant. Federal grant AL No. 20.513 Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities was incorrectly identified as AL No. 20.507 Mobility Management. While both grants are from the Federal Transit Agency, they fall under different clusters in the Office of Management and Budget’s Compliance Supplement and thus have different audit requirements. Cause: Paratransit’s internal controls over the completeness of the SEFA were not operating effectively. Effect: The grant in question was initially identified as a major grant and certain audit procedures were applied. The revision of the AL number resulted in this grant being considered non-major, thus not required to be tested. Recommendation: We recommend management verify with the grantor the AL number of the grant. This can be done by obtaining this information from grant documents, or direct communication with the grantor. We further recommend the SEFA be reviewed for accuracy by an individual not included in the SEFA preparation process. Review should be notated with initials and date. Management’s Response: See Corrective Action Plan
Finding 2023-001: Internal Controls over Compliance and Other Matters – Identification of Federal Funds for Purposes of Assembling the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA); AL No. 84.336 Criteria: Per 2 CFR 200.510(b) Schedule of expenditures of Federal awards, “the auditee must prepare a schedule of expenditures of Federal awards for the period covered by the auditee’s financial statements which must include the total Federal awards expended as determined in accordance with 2 CFR 200.502 Basis for determining Federal awards expended.” Condition: Federal expenditures were not correctly identified on the School’s initial SEFA prepared for the audit. Per review of supporting documentation and inquiry of management, it was determined that the initial SEFA excluded $30,500 of federal expenditures for the Teacher Quality Partnership Grants – AL No. 84.336 program (U.S. Department of Education. Passed through to the School from the University of St. Thomas. Pass Through Entity Identifying Number S336S200016). This federal grant had been identified as Local Revenues, instead of Federal Revenues, which caused the related federal expenditures to be missed in the initial SEFA preparation. Cause: Internal controls are not in place to identify all contract and grant agreements that are federally funded. Effect: The amount of federal expenditures reported on the SEFA was initially understated by $30,500. The final SEFA included in the single audit reporting package accurately included these amounts. By not having proper controls over SEFA preparation and federal award identification, there is a risk that the SEFA will not reflect all of the federal awards subject to the Uniform Guidance. Questioned Costs: None. Repeat Finding of Immediate Prior Year: Yes. Finding 2022-002 – Identification of Federal Funds for Purposes of Assembling the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA); AL Nos. 93.434 and 93.575. Recommendation: We recommend that the School review internal control procedures to ensure timely identification of federal awards and related expenditures. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Action: The School agrees with this finding. Lisa Hendricks, the Director of Finance, and the 3rd party accountant will work closely to develop a grant tracking system that determines the source of the grant funds prior to expending any of the funds.
2023-001 Internal Control over Compliance and Compliance with Reporting (Preparation of the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA)) Information on the Major Federal Program: Department of Homeland Security Federal Emergency Management Agency Federal Assistance Listing Number: 97.024 Federal Assistance Listing Name: Emergency Food and Shelter National Board Program Pass-through Awards under the Uniform Guidance Requirements: Pass-through Entity Award Name Award Period The United Way SE Family Center DC Phase 39 November 1, 2021 to April 30, 2023 The United Way SE Family Center DC ARPAR November 1, 2021 to April 30, 2023 The United Way Mont. Co Family Center Phase 39 November 1, 2021 to April 30, 2023 The United Way Mont. Co Family Center ARPAR November 1, 2021 to April 30, 2023 The United Way Parish Partners PG Co Phase 39 November 1, 2021 to April 30, 2023 The United Way Parish Partners PG Co ARPAR November 1, 2021 to April 30, 2023 The United Way Parish Partners Calvert Co ARPAR November 1, 2021 to April 30, 2023 The United Way Parish Partners Charles Co ARPAR November 1, 2021 to April 30, 2023 The United Way Angel’s Watch Charles Co ARPAR November 1, 2021 to April 30, 2023 The United Way St. Josephine’s Shelter DC ARPAR November 1, 2021 to April 30, 2023 The United Way Adam’s Place Shelter DC ARPAR November 1, 2021 to April 30, 2023 The United Way SMFB ARPAR November 1, 2021 to April 30, 2023 The United Way SCC Food Pantry Phase 39 November 1, 2021 to April 30, 2023 The United Way SCC Food Pantry ARPAR November 1, 2021 to April 30, 2023 The United Way Phase HR22 April 13, 2022 to July 7, 2022 Criteria: Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations Part 200 (2 CFR part 200) Section §200.510(b) states in part: “The auditee must also prepare a schedule of expenditures of Federal awards for the period covered by the auditee’s financial statements which must include the total Federal awards expended as determined in accordance with CFR Section §200.502 Basis for determining Federal awards expended.” The schedule must provide total Federal awards expended for each individual Federal program. In accordance with §200.302 Financial Management, a non-Federal entity's financial management systems, including records documenting compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award, must be sufficient to permit the preparation of reports required by general and program-specific terms and conditions; and the tracing of funds to a level of expenditures adequate to establish that such funds have been used according to the Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. The financial management system of each non-Federal entity must provide for the following: (1) Identification, in its accounts, of all Federal awards received and expended and the Federal programs under which they were received. (2) Accurate, current, and complete disclosure of the financial results of each Federal award or program in accordance with the reporting requirements set forth in §200.327 Financial Reporting and §200.328 Monitoring and Reporting Program Performance. (3) Records that identify adequately the source and application of funds for Federally-funded activities. (4) Effective control over, and accountability for, all funds, property, and other assets.