Finding 1166336 (2025-001)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
B
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2025
Accepted
2025-12-23
Audit: 377430
Auditor: BDO USA PC

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: There is a significant deficiency in internal controls over payroll allocation documentation for federal funds, specifically for the Comprehensive Literacy Development program.
  • Impacted Requirements: Compliance with 2 CFR Section 200.303 is not being met, as payroll expenses lack adequate review and approval documentation.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Implement a process to ensure all payroll allocations are properly reviewed, approved, and documented to meet federal requirements.

Finding Text

Finding 2025-001 Payroll Allocation Documentation – Significant Deficiency in Internal Control over Allowable Costs/Cost Principles Identification of the Federal Program Assistance Listing Number 87.371 - US Department of Education Passed through the State of Alaska Department of Education and Early Development -Comprehensive Literacy Development Year – 2024/2025 Criteria or Specific Requirement The Uniform Guidance in 2 CFR Section 200.303, Internal Controls requires that nonfederal entities receiving federal awards establish and maintain internal control designed to reasonably ensure compliance with federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the federal award. Condition During our testing of disbursements, we noted the following exceptions: • 6 of the 6 payroll expenditures sampled did not have adequate support for the expense that was recorded to the special revenue fund. The total expense was supported by timesheets and personnel action forms, but the percentage of the total expense charged to the grant did not have adequate documentation that was reviewed and approved. Cause Internal control process for retaining documentation of review and approval over payroll expenditure allocation was not followed. Effect or potential effect Payroll expenses may not be properly supported by reviewed and approved documentation. Questioned Costs None noted. Context For the testwork for allowable activities over the Comprehensive Literacy Development program, we noted 6 out of 6 payroll expenditures selected for testwork did not have documentation that was reviewed supporting the allocation of the time charged to the program. Repeat finding Not a repeat finding. Recommendation We recommend that the District comply with the requirements of 2 CFR section 200.303 and establish proper retention of the review and approval of the payroll allocation between each fund. Views of responsible officials To ensure payroll costs charged to multiple federal funds are properly reviewed, approved, and documented in compliance with federal, state, and institutional regulations. This procedure ensures transparency, accuracy, and appropriate record retention. Reviews allocation documents; ensures proper coding.

Corrective Action Plan

Finding 2025-001: Allocation Documentation – Significant Deficiency in Internal Control over Allowable Costs/Cost Principals Name of Contact: Lisa Pearce, Business Manager Corrective Action Plan: To ensure payroll costs charged to multiple federal funds are properly reviewed, approved, and documented in compliance with federal, state, and institutional regulations. This procedure ensures transparency, accuracy, and appropriate record retention. Reviews allocation documents; ensures proper coding. Scope: Applies to all employees whose salary or wages are distributed across two or more federal grants, cost centers, or funding sources. Responsibilities: Grant Manager/Project Director • Reviews and certifies accuracy of payroll allocations based on actual effort. • Completes Grant application according to determined allocations. • Verifies compliance with grant requirements/restrictions Business Manager • Reviews allocation documents; ensures proper coding • Verifies compliance with funding requirements/restrictions; maintains documentation for audit and retention Payroll Specialist • Processes approved changes to payroll distribution. * All approvals should be dated and signed (electronic or physical signature). Documentation and Retention: • File the following documents together: o Approved Payroll Allocation Form o Effort certification or time/effort report o Any related correspondence or justification memo. • Retain for at least 3 years after the final expenditure report for the relevant federal award, or longer if required by grantor. Periodic Review: • Conduct at least semi-annual reviews to confirm payroll allocations reflect actual work performed. • Adjust allocations as necessary and re-document approvals. Proposed Completion Date: This procedure was established in the first quarter of FY26. Full implementation of the procedure will be complete by end of FY26 Respectfully Submitted: Lisa Pearce 11/12/2025 ____________________________ __________________________ Lisa Pearce Date Business Manager

Categories

Allowable Costs / Cost Principles

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
84.041 IMPACT AID $2.16M
84.371 COMPREHENSIVE LITERACY DEVELOPMENT $500,118
84.011 MIGRANT EDUCATION STATE GRANT PROGRAM $109,292
84.010 TITLE I GRANTS TO LOCAL EDUCATIONAL AGENCIES $73,457
15.130 INDIAN EDUCATION ASSISTANCE TO SCHOOLS $55,496
84.060 INDIAN EDUCATION GRANTS TO LOCAL EDUCATIONAL AGENCIES $50,237
84.027 SPECIAL EDUCATION GRANTS TO STATES $48,244
84.424 STUDENT SUPPORT AND ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT PROGRAM $35,610
84.425 EDUCATION STABILIZATION FUND $14,917
84.358 RURAL EDUCATION $12,263
84.367 SUPPORTING EFFECTIVE INSTRUCTION STATE GRANTS (FORMERLY IMPROVING TEACHER QUALITY STATE GRANTS) $11,559
10.862 RURAL DECENTRALIZED WATER SYSTEMS GRANT PROGRAM $9,728
93.243 SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES PROJECTS OF REGIONAL AND NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE $5,000
84.173 SPECIAL EDUCATION PRESCHOOL GRANTS $1,893