Finding Text
Finding 2024-004 Repeat of Finding 2023-004 Program Federal Assistance Listing and Title: 93.778 Medicaid Cluster, Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Pass-Through Agency: Wisconsin Department of Health Services State Program ID Number and Title: 437.3561/3681 CW Children and Families State Agency: Wisconsin Department of Children and Families State Program ID Numbers and Titles: 435.560100 ADRC 435.000561/000681 Basic County Allocation State Agency: Wisconsin Department of Health Services State Program ID Number and Title: 395.168 Specialized Transit County Operating Aids (Elderly & Disabled) State Agency: Wisconsin Department of Transportation State Program ID Number and Title: 435.000283 IMAA State Share State Agency: Wisconsin Department of Health Services Award Numbers: Unknown Criteria: 2 CRF 200.303 Internal Controls requires that non-federal entities receiving federal awards establish and maintain internal control designed to reasonably ensure compliance with federal laws, regulations and program compliance requirements. The State Single Audit Guidelines (SSAG) require that local entities receiving State awards establish and maintain internal control designed to reasonably ensure compliance with laws, regulations and program compliance requirements. To minimize the risk of errors, internal controls should be in place for all program compliance requirements, including appropriate review and approval of expenditures. Condition/Context: During our testing, we were unable to view approval for the following number of payroll expenditures in each program: • 93.778: 13 out of 20 expenditures tested. • 435.000561/000681, 437.3561/3681: 7 out of 40 expenditures tested. • 435.560100: 14 out of 20 expenditures tested. For programs 395.168 and 435.000283, these are carried over from the prior year as controls have not changed within the system. These samples were not statistically valid. Cause: While review controls are in place, the County's system does not currently allow access to view the documentation of approval of payroll expenses beyond 365 days. Effect: Record retention requirements are not currently being met, which prevents outside reviewers from verifying whether or not effective controls over payroll exist for transactions older than 365 days. Questioned Costs: None noted. Recommendation: The County should work with its software provider and IT personnel to enhance documentation retention surrounding payroll approval support. Management Response: In response to Finding 2024-004 regarding Internal Control Over Financial Reporting, note that the County is aware that there is lack of controls over its year-end financial reporting process. The County will endeavor to evaluate the need to increase additional staff to meet the deficiencies noted in the finding. However, due to its size, the County does not feel it is cost-effective to hire the number of employees needed to complete these task in house at this point in time and will rely on an outside audit firm. Administration is aware the current payroll and financial system allows to only go back to view payroll approvals within one year.