Finding 1182317 (2025-001)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
B
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2025
Accepted
2026-03-24
Audit: 393769
Auditor: BONADIO & CO LLP

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: A time and effort certification for Title I payroll costs was not signed by the employee, violating federal documentation requirements.
  • Impacted Requirements: Compliance with 2 CFR §200.430(i) regarding documentation for salaries and wages charged to federal awards.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Strengthen review procedures to ensure all time and effort certifications are signed and retained before payroll processing.

Finding Text

U.S. Department of Education Passed-Through Entity: New York State Education Department Finding Reference: 2025-001 Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies (Assistance Listing # 84.010) Compliance Requirement: Allowable Costs/Cost Principles Criteria Under 2 CFR §200.430(i), charges to federal awards for salaries and wages must be supported by appropriate documentation that accurately reflects the work performed. Documentation must be signed by the employee or a responsible supervisory official having firsthand knowledge of the work performed by the employee. Condition During testing of payroll expenditures charged to the Title I program, we noted one instance where the time and effort certification was not signed by the employee. The certification covered services charged to the Title I program during the fiscal year. Cause The unsigned certification appears to be a result of oversight in the review and approval process for time and effort documentation. Effect Without a signed certification, the School District cannot demonstrate full compliance with federal documentation requirements for payroll costs charged to the Title I program. This increases the risk that salary costs charged to the program may not be properly supported. Recommendation We recommend the School District strengthen its review procedures to ensure all time and effort certifications are signed and properly retained prior to submission for payroll processing or federal reporting. View of Responsible Officials The School District will institute additional procedures to ensure that time and effort certifications are signed and properly retained.

Corrective Action Plan

March 12, 2026 Federal Award Finding: U.S. Dept. Of Education Ellenville Central School District 28 Maple Avenue Ellenville, New York 12428 (845) 647-0115 Corrective Action Plan Pass-through - NYS Education Department Title I Grants to Local Education Agencies (ALN 84.010) Finding 2025-001 - Time and Effort Certifications Criteria - Under 2 CFR §200.430(i), charges to federal awards for salaries and wages must be supported by appropriate documentation that accurately reflects the work performed. Documentation must be signed by the employee or a responsible supervisory official having firsthand knowledge of the work performed by the employee. Condition - During testing of payroll expenditures charged to the Title I program, we noted one instance where the time and effort certification was not signed by the employee. The certification covered services charged to the Title I program during the fiscal year. Cause - The unsigned certification appears to be a result of oversight in the review and approval process for time and effort documentation. Effect - Without a signed certification, the School District cannot demonstrate full compliance with federal documentation requirements for payroll costs charged to the Title I program. This increases the risk that salary costs charged to the program may not be properly supported. Recommendation - We recommend the School District strengthen its review procedures to ensure all time and effort certifications are signed and properly retained prior to submission for payroll processing or federal reporting. Management Response - School District management concurs with the finding and will take corrective action. Corrective Action Plan - Management will review procedures in place over the time and effort certifications and ensure certifications are properly signed and retained prior to submission for payroll processing or federal reporting.

Categories

Allowable Costs / Cost Principles Reporting

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1182314 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1182315 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1182316 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
84.424 STUDENT SUPPORT AND ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT PROGRAM $1.06M
10.555 NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM $677,860
84.027 SPECIAL EDUCATION GRANTS TO STATES $448,044
10.553 SCHOOL BREAKFAST PROGRAM $256,971
84.358 RURAL EDUCATION $68,893
84.367 SUPPORTING EFFECTIVE INSTRUCTION STATE GRANTS (FORMERLY IMPROVING TEACHER QUALITY STATE GRANTS) $45,560
84.424U STUDENT SUPPORT AND ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT PROGRAM $36,285
84.173 SPECIAL EDUCATION PRESCHOOL GRANTS $13,264
84.031 HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONAL AID $3,816
84.010 TITLE I GRANTS TO LOCAL EDUCATIONAL AGENCIES $2,397
10.185 LOCAL FOOD FOR SCHOOLS COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT PROGRAM $1,404