Finding 1182627 (2025-001)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
AB
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2025
Accepted
2026-03-25

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The District overcharged indirect costs to the Child Nutrition Cluster program by $166,469 due to misunderstanding the allowable limits.
  • Impacted Requirements: Compliance with USDA guidance and 2 CFR Part 200 on allowable costs and indirect cost rates.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Ensure future calculations of indirect costs align with USDA guidelines to prevent similar issues.

Finding Text

Finding Number: 2025‐001 Repeat Finding: No Program Name/Assistance Listing Ttile: Child Nutrition Cluster Assistance Listing Numbers: 10.553, 10.555, 10.559 Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Agriculture Federal Award Number: 7AZ300AZ3 Pass‐Through Agency: Arizona Department of Education Questioned Costs: N/A Type of Finding: Noncompliance, Significant Deficiency Compliance Requirements: Allowable Costs/Cost Principles Criteria According to the Memo SP 60‐2016‐Indirect Costs Guidance for State Agencies and School Food Authorities, issued by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), and 2 CFR Part 200, Subpart E, a District may recover indirect costs of services rendered to school food service at a rate not to exceed the unrestricted indirect cost rate approved by the Arizona Department of Education (ADE). The approved indirect cost rate is subject to change each fiscal year. Condition Indirect Cost Guidance for the Child Nutrition Program was not followed correctly. Cause The District was unaware of the limitations that were imposed on indirect cost charges to the Child Nutrition Program. Effect Indirect costs of $166,469 were overcharged to the Child Nutrition Cluster program. Context The sample was not intended to be, and was not, a statistically valid sample. The District charged the Child Nutrition Cluster program, reported in the Food Service Fund, $224,500 in indirect costs for the fiscal year, whereas the maximum allowable indirect costs was calculated at $58,031. The District has since corrected this error. Recommendation The District should ensure indirect costs are calculated in accordance with the formula set forth in the guidance issued by USDA. Views of Responsible Officials See Corrective Action Plan.

Corrective Action Plan

Finding Number: 2025‐001 Program Name/Assistance Listing Title: Child Nutrition Cluster Assistance Listing Numbers: 10.553, 10.555, 10.559 Contact Person: Business Manager, Food Service Director, and Business Office Staff Anticipated Completion Date: June 30, 2026 Planned Corrective Action: The following corrections will be implemented. 1. Review and update procedures for calculating indirect costs in accordance with USDA Memo SP 60‐2016 and 2 CFR Part 200. 2. Ensure use of the ADE‐approved unrestricted indirect cost rate annually. 3. Implement a standardized calculation worksheet to document allowable indirect cost limits. 4. Require review and approval of indirect cost calculations by the Business Manager prior to posting. 5. Provide training to business office staff on federal cost principles and Child Nutrition requirements. 6. Perform periodic internal reviews to ensure compliance.

Categories

Allowable Costs / Cost Principles School Nutrition Programs Significant Deficiency

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1182625 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1182626 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
10.555 NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM $1.24M
84.010 TITLE I GRANTS TO LOCAL EDUCATIONAL AGENCIES $684,297
84.287 TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY COMMUNITY LEARNING CENTERS $573,684
84.027 SPECIAL EDUCATION GRANTS TO STATES $515,165
21.027 CORONAVIRUS STATE AND LOCAL FISCAL RECOVERY FUNDS $368,590
10.553 SCHOOL BREAKFAST PROGRAM $345,951
93.778 MEDICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM $338,782
93.788 OPIOID STR $229,088
84.196 EDUCATION FOR HOMELESS CHILDREN AND YOUTH $104,781
10.559 SUMMER FOOD SERVICE PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN $102,471
84.367 SUPPORTING EFFECTIVE INSTRUCTION STATE GRANTS (FORMERLY IMPROVING TEACHER QUALITY STATE GRANTS) $101,655
10.665 SCHOOLS AND ROADS - GRANTS TO STATES $96,070
84.365 ENGLISH LANGUAGE ACQUISITION STATE GRANTS $26,818
84.048 CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION -- BASIC GRANTS TO STATES $22,250
84.173 SPECIAL EDUCATION PRESCHOOL GRANTS $15,322
84.425 EDUCATION STABILIZATION FUND $106