Finding 1098634 (2024-003)

MATERIAL WEAKNESS IN INTERNAL CONTROL OVER COMPLIANCE AND MATERIAL NONCOMPLIANCE – U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION – PASSED THROUGH MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, COVID-19 – EDUCATION STABILIZATION FUND – FEDERAL ALN 84.425 2024-003 Internal Control Over Compliance and Material Noncompliance With Equipment and Real Property Management Requirements Criteria – 2 CFR § 200.313 requires the District to designate fixed assets purchased under federal programs and to maintain related property records, including a description of the property, a serial number or other unique identification number, the source of funding for the property (including the federal Assistance Listing Number (ALN)), who holds title, the acquisition date, cost of the property, percentage of federal participation in the project costs for the federal award under which the property was acquired, the location, use, and condition of the property, and any ultimate disposition data, including the date of disposal and sale price of the property. A physical inventory of the property must be taken and the results reconciled with the property records at least every two years. Condition – During our audit, we noted that the District did not have sufficient controls in place within the COVID-19 – Education Stabilization Fund federal program to specifically identify federally funded fixed assets and maintain the required records as noted above to assure compliance with federal equipment and real property management requirements. The District does not have a process or procedure in place for a physical inventory of property acquired with federal funds. Two fixed assets purchased with federal awards in the current year were not maintained in accordance with federal equipment and real property management requirements. Questioned Costs – None. Context – Fixeed assets purchased with federal awards have not been maintained in accordance with federal equipment and real property management requirements. This was not a statistically valid sample. Repeat Finding – This is a current year and prior year finding. Cause – The District did not have a system in place for specifically identifying federally funded fixed assets and maintaining the required records as noted above. Effect – This could be viewed as a violation of the award agreement. Recommendation – We recommend that the District review its internal control procedures to ensure future compliance with the federal compliance requirements specific to equipment and real property management for the COVID-19 Education Stabilization Fund federal program. View of Responsible Official and Planned Corrective Actions – The District agrees with the finding. The District intends to review its control procedures relating to equipment and real property management requirements to ensure compliance for future federal awards expenditures. The District has separately issued a Corrective Action Plan related to this finding.