Finding Text
Finding 2025-003: Preparation of the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards Material weakness/other matter noncompliance Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Homeland Security Program Name: Transit Security Grant Programs ALN Number: 97.075 Award Number: 97.075 Award Year: 2025 Criteria: The Uniform Guidance (2 CFR 200.510b) requires that the auditee (typically a non-federal entity receiving federal funds) must prepare a Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA) for the period covered by its financial statements which must include the total Federal Awards expended as determined in accordance with 2 CFR 200.502. Condition: The SEFA for the year ended June 30, 2025, included $2,385,715 in expenditures that were incurred in the year ended June 30, 2024, overstating the total expenditures reported for the federal awards for ALN 97.075 Rail and Transit Security Grant Program. Cause: The existing internal control procedures for processing funding source reclassifications are not structured to fully support the SEFA reporting cutoff deadline. While a process is in place, it does not fully incorporate all necessary stakeholders early enough in the cycle to ensure timely communication, coordinated review, and approval of reclassifications leading to expenditures being included in the incorrect reporting cycle Effect: Not in compliance with the Uniform Guidance (2 CFR 200.510b). There could be impacts on future funding. Questioned costs: None. Context: As a result of the inclusion of fiscal year ended 2024 expenditures, total federal awards for ALN 97.075, Rail and Transit Security Grant Program, were overstated by $2,385,715. Repeat Finding: Yes. This repeat finding designation results from the identification of the $2,385,715 timing difference, which affected SEFA reporting for both fiscal year 2024 and fiscal year 2025. Findings for both fiscal years were evaluated and communicated to management in 2026. Recommendation: We recommend that the Authority review the schedule of expenditures of federal awards prior to issuance. Views of responsible officials and planned corrective actions: Management agrees with the finding and acknowledges that internal control procedures should be strengthened to ensure adherence to the SEFA reporting cutoff deadline. To address this issue, the Authority will implement a verification checklist as required supporting documentation for all funding source reclassification journal entries, ensuring that all relevant departments have reviewed and approved the entries prior to being posted. The Authority will also establish a cutoff date for Program Offices to submit current-year reclassification requests, allowing adequate time for eligibility review and fiscal year-end reporting. In addition, Accounting Policies and Procedures Manual will be updated to include guidelines limiting reclassifications of expenditures incurred in prior fiscal years. The Authority will communicate policy updates incorporate these changes to ensure consistent application across departments.