Finding 1159979 (2022-001)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
C
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2022
Accepted
2025-10-05
Audit: 370454
Organization: Native Village of Tyonek (AK)
Auditor: Brad Cage CPA

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The Native Village of Tyonek has more liabilities than cash, with unearned grant revenue exceeding cash on hand, risking financial hardship if grant advances are mismanaged.
  • Impacted Requirements: Compliance with 2 CFR, Section 200.302 is critical; all grant advances must remain until used for allowable expenses.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Management should minimize non-grant expenses, monitor the general fund's financial health, and evaluate vendor relationships to prevent unallowable spending.

Finding Text

CASH MANAGEMENT, I NOTED THAT THE NATIVE VILLAGE OF TYONEK (NVT) HAD AN EXCESS OF ACCOUNTS PAYABLE, ACCRUED PAYROLL LIABILITIES AND UNEARNED GRANT REVENUES AS COMPARED TO CASH ON HAND. TOTAL CASH ON HAND AT YEAR END WAS $5,810,414 AND TOTAL UNEARNED GRANT REVENUE WAS $6,181,944. PER 2 CFR, SECTION 200.302, THE NATIVE VILLAGE MUST COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENT THAT ANY AND ALL GRANT ADVANCES BE RETAINED WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION UNTIL EXPENDED ON ALLOWABLE GRANT EXPENDITURES. QUESTIONED COSTS NOT DETERMINED. IN PRIOR YEARS, THERE WAS AN OVEREXPENDITURE OF GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES IN EXCESS OF REVENUES FOR THE YEAR. MOST OF THIS WAS BILLINGS FROM THE VILLAGES CONSULTANTS (6 AND 7 YEARS AGO) WHOSE BILLINGS WERE FAR IN EXCESS OF THE AVAILABLE UNRESTRICTED FUNDS WHICH THE VILLAGE HAD TO PAY THEM AS WELL AS LOSSES IN THE KALOA FUND. GRANTING AGENCIES COULD REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT OF THESE UNALLOWABLE ADVANCES CAUSING FINANCIAL HARDSHIP FOR THE NVT. MANAGEMENT NEEDS TO ENSURE THAT ALL NONGRANT EXPENSES NEED TO BE KEPT TO A MINIMUM TO ENSURE THAT ADVANCED GRANT FUNDS ARE NOT SPENT ON UNALLOWABLE ITEMS. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE NVT TRACK THROUGHOUT THE YEAR THE NET PROFIT OR LOSS IN THE GENERAL FUND AND IMMEDIATELY TAKE CORRECTIVE STEPS IF THE GENERAL FUND IS SHOWING A LOSS. IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT THAT CONTINUING RELATIONSHIPS WITH VENDORS ARE EVALUATED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR TO ENSURE REASONABLENESS OF PAYMENTS. IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT THAT LOSSES IN THE KALOA BUILDING FUND ARE ELIMINATED. THIS FINDING WAS ALSO NOTED AS FINDING 2021-001. IT HAS ALSO BEEN NOTED SINCE 2014.

Corrective Action Plan

Management will ensure that all nongrant expenditures are kept to a minimum until the cash balance of NVT is in excess of the unearned grant revenue and restricted fund balance. A large part of this problem in the current year was the amount of money paid to the Village’s accountants/consultant in prior years. This has been resolved and the new accountant’s fees are much more in line with reasonable amounts.

Categories

Cash Management Allowable Costs / Cost Principles Matching / Level of Effort / Earmarking

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1159980 2022-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1159981 2022-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1159982 2022-004
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1159983 2022-005
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
21.027 Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds $3.92M
93.441 Indian Self-Determination $419,262
93.243 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Projects of Regional and National Significance $323,235
14.867 Indian Housing Block Grants $138,826
15.020 Aid to Tribal Governments $138,725
15.021 Consolidated Tribal Government $138,623
20.205 Highway Planning and Construction $134,267
93.788 Opioid Str $133,172
66.926 Indian Environmental General Assistance Program (gap) $68,265
15.034 Agriculture on Indian Lands $47,352
15.141 Indian Housing Assistance $46,186
15.108 Indian Employment Assistance $26,278
81.087 Renewable Energy Research and Development $10,562
93.645 Stephanie Tubbs Jones Child Welfare Services Program $6,179
15.144 Indian Child Welfare Act Title II Grants $1,270