Finding 1175930 (2022-002)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
A
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2022
Accepted
2026-03-02
Audit: 389901
Organization: Head Start of Lane County (OR)
Auditor: WIPFLI LLP

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: Head Start of Lane County failed to provide documentation supporting cost allocations, leading to questioned costs of approximately $645,000.
  • Impacted Requirements: This situation violates Section 200.400 (d) of Uniform Guidance, which mandates proper documentation for costs charged to federal awards.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Management should assess the finance department's operations and establish procedures to ensure compliance with the cost allocation plan.

Finding Text

.S Department of Health and Human Services - Head Start Cluster - AL #93.600Grant Number: 10CH01165001/10CH01165002/10CH01165001C5/10CH01165001C6 Grant Period: July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022 Questioned Costs: Costs were estimated to the approximately $645,000 How the questioned costs were computed: Recreation of allocation comparing actual allocations versus allocations that should have been made based on cost allocation plan. Condition – During the audit fieldwork, Wipfli, LLP. noted that Head Start of Lane County had a documented cost allocation plan that described how costs were to allocated between grant programs. During our testing, we noted that Head Start of Lane County was unable to provide supporting documentation that costs were allocated based on the documented plan. Criteria – Section 200.400 (d) of Uniform Guidance states the accounting practices of the recipient must be consistent with these cost principles and support the accumulation of costs as required by these cost principles, including maintaining adequate documentation to support costs charged to the Federal award. Schedule of Findings and Questioned Costs Year Ended June 30, 2022 Section III - Financial Award Findings and Questioned Costs: (Continued) 2022-002 - Application of Cost Allocation Plan - (Continued) Cause – During the audit year, there was turnover in Head Start of Lane County’s business office which contributed to the lack of support available for the allocation. Head Start of Lane County is working on streamlining and implementing processes to address the deficiency noted in the condition paragraph. Effect - As a result of having documentation to support the application of the cost allocation plan, a material weakness exists in internal controls over allocation of costs. Recommendation - We recommend management and those charged with governance evaluate the operation of the finance department and implement procedures to ensure that costs are allocated in accordance with the documented cost allocation plan. View of Responsible Officials - Management agrees with the assessment and has committed to a corrective action plan.

Corrective Action Plan

Head Start of Lane County has created a paln with assitance of Wipfli to complete outstanding audits. See corrective action item 2022-004 for more details. The agency has implemented a yearly closeout starting in the year 2024-2025 going forward. This will allow for timely audit preparation, reconciliations and adjustments to occur

Categories

Allowable Costs / Cost Principles Material Weakness

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1175929 2022-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1175931 2022-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1175932 2022-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1175933 2022-004
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1175934 2022-004
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
93.600 HEAD START $717,288
10.558 CHILD AND ADULT CARE FOOD PROGRAM $352,722
93.870 MATERNAL, INFANT AND EARLY CHILDHOOD HOME VISITING GRANT $249,519