Finding Text
FINDING 2025-005 Subject: COVID-19 - Education Stabilization Fund - Allowable Costs/Cost Principles Federal Agency: Department of Education Federal Program: COVID-19 - Education Stabilization Fund Assistance Listings Number: 84.425U Federal Award Number and Year (or Other Identifying Number): S425U210013 Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirement: Allowable Costs/Cost Principles Audit Findings: Significant Deficiency, Other Matters Condition and Context The School Corporation had not properly designed or implemented a system of internal controls, which would include appropriate segregation of duties, that would likely be effective in preventing, or detecting and correcting, noncompliance related to the Allowable Costs/Cost Principles compliance requirement. INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 20 CROTHERSVILLE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS (Continued) A sample of 13 claims charged to the COVID-19 - Education Stabilization Fund program for which reimbursement was received during the audit period was selected for testing to verify the expenditures were in conformance with the applicable cost principles. Of the 13 claims tested, 3 were found to include unallowable costs. The description of the claims are as follows: • The School Corporation had 2 claims for supplies/building materials to build a storage building totaling $5,932. The building was not able to be completed due to the Fire Marshal's report. The School Corporation decided to not complete this project and used these materials/supplies within the School Corporation for other projects. There was no documentation presented for review to show where these materials were used; therefore, it could not be determined if the expenses were allowable. • The School Corporation had 1 claim for concrete for the storage building. The concrete pad was completed, and the building was never completed. Total cost of this claim was $3,619. There are no plans for the use of the concrete so it could not be determined if the expense was allowable. Criteria 2 CFR 200.303 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must: (a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ." 2 CFR 200.403 states in part: "Except where otherwise authorized by statute, costs must meet the following general criteria in order to be allowable under Federal awards: (a) Be necessary and reasonable for the performance of the Federal award and be allocable thereto under these principles. (b) Conform to any limitations or exclusions set forth in these principles or in the Federal award as to types or amount of cost items. . . . (g) Be adequately documented. . . ." Cause Management had not developed a system of internal controls that would have ensured compliance with the grant agreement and the Allowable Costs/Cost Principles compliance requirement. Once the original project was discontinued no documentation was created to show how the purchased materials were used and for what purpose. INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS 21 CROTHERSVILLE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS (Continued) Effect The failure to establish an effective internal control system and maintain adequate supporting documentation enabled noncompliance to go undetected. Noncompliance with the grant agreement and the Allowable Costs/Cost Principles compliance requirement could result in the loss of federal funds to the School Corporation. Questioned Costs There were no questioned costs identified. Recommendation We recommended that the School Corporation's management establish an effective system of internal controls and maintain adequate supporting documentation to ensure compliance with the grant agreement and the Allowable Costs/Cost Principles compliance requirement. Views of Responsible Officials For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.