Finding 1155965 (2024-003)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
L
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2024
Accepted
2025-09-29
Audit: 368373
Organization: Brighter Bites (TX)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: Expenditures for federal and state programs were reported incorrectly, not following GAAP, leading to a $268,000 understatement.
  • Impacted Requirements: Compliance with federal and state reporting standards, specifically §200.502 of 2 CFR Part 200 and Texas Grant Management Standards.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Establish and enforce policies to ensure all expenditures are accurately recorded in the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA) and State Awards (SESA).

Finding Text

Finding #2024-003 – Significant Deficiency and Other Noncompliance. Applicable federal programs: U. S. Department of Agriculture, State Administrative Matching Grants for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP Cluster), Assistance listing #: 10.561, Passed through Texas Health and Human Services, Contract #: 529-16-002-00002, Contract Year: 10/01/23 – 09/30/24 and 10/01/24 – 09/30/25, Passed through New York Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance and City Harvest, Inc., Contract #: None, Contract Year: 10/01/23 – 09/30/24, Passed through New York Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, Contract #: TDA01 – C00043GM-3410000, Contract Year: 10/010/24 – 09/30/25, Passed through The Regents of the University of California, Contract #: A22-1456-S002, Contract Year: 10/01/23 – 09/30/24, Passed through Pennsylvania State University, Contract #: S006438-COP-BRB, Contract Year: 10/01/24 – 09/30/25, Passed through New Mexico State University, Contract #: GSA 22-630-9000-0023, Contract Years: 10/01/23 – 09/30/24 and 10/01/24 – 09/30/25. Department of Treasury, Passed through Houston Food Bank, COVID-19 – Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds, Assistance Listing #: 21.027, Contract #: HHS000493200003, Contact Year: 02/08/23 – 12/31/25. Applicable state programs: Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, Surplus Agricultural Products Grant Program, Contract #: GA-555-01, Contract Years: 09/01/23 – 08/31/24 and 09/01/24 – 08/31/25. Criteria: Reporting – Management is responsible for preparing the schedule of expenditures of federal awards in accordance with §200.502 of 2 CFR Part 200 Uniform Administrative Requirements Cost Principles and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards and the Schedule of Expenditures of State Awards (SESA) in Accordance with Texas Grant Management Standards, which requires costs to be reported in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). Condition and context: During our testing of the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA) and the SESA, we noted that the expenditures were not reported in accordance with GAAP. An adjustment of $268,000 was recorded to properly state the expenditures. Cause: Brighter Bites reported the expenditures based on the cash basis grant billings. Effect: Failure to have an effective system of internal control over the preparation of the SEFA and SESA resulted in expenditures being understated. Recommendation: Implement policies and procedures to ensure that all expenditures have been properly recorded in accordance with GAAP in the SEFA and SESA. Views of responsible officials and planned corrective actions: Management agrees with the finding. See Corrective Action Plan.

Corrective Action Plan

Finding #2024-003 – Significant Deficiency and Other Noncompliance. Condition and context: During our testing of the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA) and the SESA, we noted that the expenditures were not reported in accordance with GAAP. An adjustment of $268,000 was recorded to properly state the expenditures. Recommendation: Implement policies and procedures to ensure that all expenditures have been properly recorded in accordance with GAAP in the SEFA and SESA. Corrective action plan: Management agrees with the finding. Beginning in fiscal year 2025, a detailed reconciliation process will be implemented to ensure that all expenditures are properly accrued and reported at the grant level in the SEFA and SESA, aligned with the appropriate reporting period, and the general ledger. Responsible officer: Gouri Kulkarni, Vice President of Finance. Estimated completion date: December 31, 2025.

Categories

Reporting

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1155952 2024-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1155953 2024-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1155954 2024-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1155955 2024-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1155956 2024-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1155957 2024-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1155958 2024-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1155959 2024-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1155960 2024-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1155961 2024-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1155962 2024-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1155963 2024-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1155964 2024-002
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
21.027 Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds $318,472
10.561 State Administrative Matching Grants for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program $191,353
93.391 Activities to Support State, Tribal, Local and Territorial (stlt) Health Department Response to Public Health Or Healthcare Crises $119,895
10.331 Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program $90,704