Finding 1179107 (2025-003)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
AB
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2025
Accepted
2026-03-12
Audit: 391520
Organization: Second Judicial District Court (NM)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The Department failed to adjust a reimbursement request for a duplicate travel payment, leading to potential noncompliance with federal cost requirements.
  • Impacted Requirements: Noncompliance with 2 CFR §200.303 and 2 CFR §200.403(f) regarding effective internal controls and cost allocation.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Investigate the query issue causing the oversight and implement a reconciliation process with the general ledger before submitting future reimbursement requests.

Finding Text

Criteria or specific requirement: According to 2 CFR §200.303, the recipient must establish, document, and maintain effective internal control over the federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the recipient is managing the federal award in compliance with federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the federal award. According to 2 CFR §200.403(f), except where otherwise authorized by statute, costs must meet not be included as a cost or used to meet cost sharing requirements of any other federally-financed program in either the current or a prior period. Condition: During our testing of drawdowns related to matching, we noted that the Department did not adjust its reimbursement request to account for a duplicate travel reimbursement. Questioned costs: $169 Context: The Department processed a travel reimbursement twice, resulting in a duplicate payment of $225 to the employee. The employee reimbursed the Department for this duplicate payment. However, the Department did not adjust its reimbursement request to reflect the credit in the financial records. Cause: The Department was unaware that the query used for the reimbursement request excluded the credit. Effect: The auditor noted an instance of noncompliance. Noncompliance results in possible under or over charges to the grant. Repeat Finding: No. Recommendation: We recommend that the Department identify the reason for the exclusion of the credit in its query. Additionally, the Department should consider reviewing the query to the general ledger as part of the final review before submitting the reimbursement request. Views of responsible officials and planned corrective actions: The Department recognizes the audit finding and its responsibility to comply with 2 CFR §200.403(f). Corrective action will be taken. The Department revised the policies and procedures for cash disbursements within the Administrative Services Division. Effective immediately, upon running the monthly query of federal expenditures for the cash reimbursement for federal grants, the Federal Financial Analyst will submit the query to the Budget Director and the Accountant/Auditor. A reconciliation to the General Ledger will be completed by them prior to the Federal Financial Analyst requesting the cash reimbursement. Responsible Employee Position: CFO Timeline: July 31, 2026

Corrective Action Plan

Recommendation: We recommend that the Department identify the reason for the exclusion of the credit in its query. Additionally, the Department should consider reviewing the query to the general ledger as part of the final review before submitting the reimbursement request. Explanation of disagreement with audit finding: The Department recognizes the audit finding and its responsibility to comply with 2 CFR §200.403(f). Action planned in response to finding: Corrective action will be taken. The Department revised the policies and procedures for cash disbursements within the Administrative Services Division. Effective immediately, upon running the monthly query of federal expenditures for the cash reimbursement for federal grants, the Federal Financial Analyst will submit the query to the Budget Director and the Accountant/Auditor. A reconciliation to the General Ledger will be completed by them prior to the Federal Financial Analyst requesting the cash reimbursement. Name(s) of the contact person(s) responsible for corrective action: Paul Varela, CFO Planned completion date for corrective action plan: July 31, 2026

Categories

Cash Management Matching / Level of Effort / Earmarking

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1179105 2025-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1179106 2025-002
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
15.611 WILDLIFE RESTORATION AND BASIC HUNTER EDUCATION AND SAFETY $15.09M
15.605 SPORT FISH RESTORATION $6.08M
15.634 STATE WILDLIFE GRANTS $1.12M
15.669 COOPERATIVE LANDSCAPE CONSERVATION $202,496
15.529 Endangered Fishery Recovery $197,252
15.615 COOPERATIVE ENDANGERED SPECIES CONSERVATION FUND $163,463
15.517 Gila River Basin Native Fish $67,487
15.608 Fish and Wildlife Management Assistance $66,231
15.626 ENHANCED HUNTER EDUCATION AND SAFETY $43,219
16.738 EDWARD BYRNE MEMORIAL JUSTICE ASSISTANCE GRANT PROGRAM $29,139
15.670 Big Game Seasonal Movements $0