Finding 1180732 (2025-001)

Finding 2025-001: Questioned Costs – Allowable Costs/Costs Principles (material weakness) Statement of Condition: During our testing of expenditures applied to the Economic Adjustment Assistance Program, we identified that the College charged federal funds to a capital project that had previously been paid for with bond proceeds. The bond proceeds were restricted for use on the same project for which federal funds were awarded. Criteria: In accordance with 2 CFR 200.403(a), costs charged to a federal award must be necessary, reasonable, and allocable to the federal program. Additionally, 2 CFR 200.404(a) states that a cost is reasonable if the cost is generally recognized as ordinary and necessary for the recipient’s operation or the proper and efficient performance of the Federal award. Further, 2 CFR 200.405(a) notes that a cost is allocable to a Federal award or other cost objective if the cost is assignable to that Federal award or other cost objective in accordance with the relative benefits received. In addition, the cost must be incurred specifically for the Federal award. 2 CFR 200.406(a) states that applicable credits refer to transactions that offset or reduce direct costs allocable to a federal award. To the extent that such credits are received by the recipient relate to allowable costs, they must be credited to the federal award either as a cost reduction or cash refund, as appropriate. Effect of Condition: Federal funds were used to reimburse costs that had already been paid with bond proceeds, resulting in unallowable costs being charged to the federal program. Cause of Condition: The College did not have adequate controls in place to ensure that costs charged to the federal program had not already been funded by another source. Questioned Costs: The questioned costs total approximately $1,100,000, representing the federal funds used to pay for the capital project already funded by bond proceeds. Recommendation: We recommend that the College implement and enforce procedures to ensure that all costs charged to federal programs comply with the Cost Principles stated in Subpart E of 2 CFR 200.400.