Finding 1147016 (2024-003)

Assistance Listing Number(s): 20.509 Name of Federal Program or Cluster: Formula Grants for Rural Areas and Tribal Transit Program Name of Federal Agency: Department of Transportation Federal Award Identification Number: CY2024 WETAP Federal Award Year: January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2024 Criteria: According to 2 CFR §200.436(b)(1), “The depreciation cost is not allowable for equipment that was paid for by the Federal Government either directly or through a non-federal entity's federal award.” Additionally, costs charged to a federal award must be allowable, allocable, and reasonable per 2 CFR §200.403. Condition: During the preliminary review of expenditures charged to federal programs, it was noted that depreciation expense was recorded for a vehicle that had been 100% federally funded in a prior year. The depreciation was charged to the major federal program in the current fiscal year. Cause: The depreciation was charged due to a lack of review procedures to ensure that federally funded assets are excluded from depreciation calculations allocated to federal awards. Effect or Potential Effect and Questioned Costs: As a result, unallowable costs were charged to the federal program, which may result in questioned costs and potential repayment to the federal agency, as well as noncompliance with federal cost principles. Context: The error was not a part of our sample. It was discovered as a year-end journal entry. Repeat Finding: No Recommendation: Management should conduct a review of depreciation charges for the current and future years to ensure that federally funded assets are excluded from depreciation allocations to federal programs.