Finding Text
Internal Control over Compliance and Compliance with Reporting (Preparation of the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA)) ALN: 10.904, Milk River Project ALN: 10.923, Stream Restoration and Bridge Replacement for St. Mary Siphon Failure ALN: 15.U01, Replacement of St. Mary and Hallls Coulee Siphons on St. Mary Canal CRITERIA: The Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Section §200.510(b) states in part: "The auditee must also prepare a schedule of expenditures of Federal awards for the period covered by the auditee's financial statements which must include the total Federal awards expended as determined in accordance with CFR Section §200.502 Basis for determining Federal awards expended." The schedule must provide total Federal awards expended for each individual Federal program. CFR 200.302(b)(1) requires that the nonfederal entity must identify in its accounts and on the schedule of expenditures of federal awards all federal awards received and expended, as well as the federal programs under which they were received. Federal program and award identification must include, as applicable, the Assistance Listing program title and number, the federal award identification number and year, the name of the federal agency, and the name of the pass-through entity, if any. CONDITION: The ALN 10.923, Stream Restoration and Bridge Replacement for St. Mary Siphon Failure, was left off the prepared SEFA. Amounts reported for ALN 10.904 and ALN 15.U01 did not agree to the accounting records. CONTEXT: The SEFA was misstated as follows: • Understated for ALN 10.904 by $196,980; • Understated for ALN 10.923 by $105,977; and • Overstated for ALN 15.U01 by $1,978,224. The net effect was an overstatement of $1,675,267 for total federal expenditures. EFFECT: The SEFA provided was not complete and accurate. QUESTIONED COSTS: None CAUSE: The internal controls for the preparation of the SEFA and review of the SEFA were not present to ensure the SEFA was complete and accurate. RECOMMENDATION: We recommend the MRJBOC prepare written procedures on how to put together the SEFA and strengthen internal controls to ensure all federal awards are included on the SEFA. We also recommend that the SEFA be reviewed by someone other than the preparer for completeness and accuracy prior to providing to the auditor. MRJBOC RESPONSE: MRJBOC acknowledges the deficiencies identified in the preparation and review of the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA). During 2024, the organization experienced a significant increase in federal funding activity related to emergency response and infrastructure replacement projects. The rapid expansion of federal programs, addition of funds and reporting requirements exceeded existing internal documentation and review processes. To strengthen compliance controls and ensure SEFA accuracy in future reporting periods, MRJBOC will implement the following corrective actions: • Develop and formalize written SEFA preparation procedures, including grant identification, ALN verification, and reconciliation to general ledger balances. • Establish a dual-review process in which the SEFA is reviewed and approved by a party independent from the preparer prior to submission to auditors. • Maintain a centralized federal grant tracking log that includes award numbers, funding sources, drawdowns, and cumulative expenditures. These measures will improve internal control over federal reporting, enhance accuracy, and ensure compliance with federal audit requirements.