Finding 1165643 (2025-002)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
B
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2025
Accepted
2025-12-19
Audit: 376310
Organization: Dundee Community Schools (MI)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: Payroll charges to federal grants were inaccurately documented, leading to underpayments and misallocated costs.
  • Impacted Requirements: The District did not fully comply with Uniform Guidance regarding documentation and cost allocation for federal programs.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: The District should enhance payroll processes with review procedures and training to ensure accurate wage rates and proper grant allocations.

Finding Text

2025-002 – Allowable Costs/Cost Principles – Payroll Charges Finding Type. Immaterial Noncompliance; Significant Deficiency in Internal Controls over Compliance (Allowable Costs/Cost Principles). Federal program(s) U.S. Department of Agriculture -  Child Nutrition Cluster (ALN 10.553 and 10.555); Passed through the Michigan Department of Education; All project numbers. Criteria. Uniform Guidance requires the District to support payroll charged to federal cost objectives with adequate documentation that costs are reasonable for the services rendered and conform to the written policy established by the entity. Condition. During our testing of personnel timecards, we noted one instance where the amounts charged to the grant were understated. The wage rate per the employee's personnel file did not agree to the rate used to pay the employee, which resulted in an underpayment to the employee which was subsequently corrected. In another instance, we noted that the District charged payroll expenditures to the food service fund that were related to a different grant. This resulted in an overstatement of costs charged to the child nutrition program. Cause. This condition appears to be the result of an error by the District in the entering of the timecards into the payroll system. Effect. As a result of this condition, the District did not fully comply with the Uniform Guidance applicable to the above noted grants. Questioned Costs. None reported. Recommendation. We recommend that the District review the process for accumulating and summarizing time to minimize the likelihood of errors in the process. View of Responsible Officials. While the identified payroll errors were very small, to address these issues, the District will implement updated review procedures to ensure accuracy of wage rates and proper grant allocation. Specifically, payroll staff will verify that employee wage rates used for grant charges agree to the rates documented in personnel files prior to processing payments. Additionally, the District will establish a secondary review process to confirm that payroll expenditures are charged to the correct grant or program before posting. Training will be provided to all payroll and grant management personnel on proper coding and documentation requirements.

Corrective Action Plan

2025-002 – Allowable Costs/Cost Principles – Payroll Charges Auditor Description of Condition and Effect. During our testing of personnel timecards, we noted one instance where the amounts charged to the grant were understated. The wage rate per the employee's personnel file did not agree to the rate used to pay the employee, which resulted in an underpayment to the employee which was subsequently corrected. In another instance, we noted that the District charged payroll expenditures to the food service fund that were related to a different grant. This resulted in an overstatement of costs charged to the child nutrition program. As a result of this condition, the District did not fully comply with the Uniform Guidance applicable to the above noted grants. Auditor Recommendation. We recommend that the District review the process for accumulating and summarizing time to minimize the likelihood of errors in the process. Responsible Person: Kimberly Worden, Business Manager Corrective Action. While the identified payroll errors were very small, to address these issues, the District will implement updated review procedures to ensure accuracy of wage rates and proper grant allocation. Specifically, payroll staff will verify that employee wage rates used for grant charges agree to the rates documented in personnel files prior to processing payments. Additionally, the District will establish a secondary review process to confirm that payroll expenditures are charged to the correct grant or program before posting. Training will be provided to all payroll and grant management personnel on proper coding and documentation requirements. Anticipated Completion Date: June 30, 2026

Categories

Allowable Costs / Cost Principles School Nutrition Programs

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1165632 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1165633 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1165634 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1165635 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1165636 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1165637 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1165638 2025-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1165639 2025-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1165640 2025-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1165641 2025-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1165642 2025-002
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
32.009 EMERGENCY CONNECTIVITY FUND PROGRAM $196,620
10.553 SCHOOL BREAKFAST PROGRAM $108,044
84.010 TITLE I GRANTS TO LOCAL EDUCATIONAL AGENCIES $84,070
84.367 SUPPORTING EFFECTIVE INSTRUCTION STATE GRANTS (FORMERLY IMPROVING TEACHER QUALITY STATE GRANTS) $24,034
84.365 ENGLISH LANGUAGE ACQUISITION STATE GRANTS $24,000
93.778 MEDICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM $12,252
84.424 STUDENT SUPPORT AND ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT PROGRAM $9,286
84.425 EDUCATION STABILIZATION FUND $4,921
10.558 CHILD AND ADULT CARE FOOD PROGRAM $1,487
10.555 NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM $160