Finding Text
Assistance Listing Number 84.425 Education Stabilization Fund Department of Education Passed Through North Dakota Department of Public Instruction Passed Through Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians Equipment/Real Property Management Criteria 2 CFR sections 200.313(c) and (e) includes a requirement for the non-federal entity to not encumber the equipment without prior approval of the federal awarding agency. 2 CFR section 200.311 includes a requirement for the non-federal entity, with prior approval by the ED or passthrough entity, may also use ESF funds to purchase real property, perform construction or minor remodeling, and for improvements to land, buildings, or equipment. Condition The District did not obtain prior approval for equipment acquisition or construction projects. This condition was noted for the following expenditures: Check 241010 Dated 12/27/2024 for $104,931.00 Check 240640 Dated 11/14/2024 for $147,398.90 Check 239597 Dated 8/30/2024 for $121,240.00 Context Per discussion with the District staff and review of program expenditures, there were 22 capital asset acquisitions during the year, we tested three of them for prior state approval. All three of these purchases were made without prior state approval. Cause The District did not properly submit for prior approval for equipment acquisition or construction until after the expenditure had been incurred and in some instances there were no submissions for prior approval. Effect The District may have purchased capital items that were not allowed by the State. Questioned Costs Undeterminable. Repeat Finding See prior year finding 2024-004. Recommendation We recommend the District to review all compliance requirements of federal programs to ensure they have procedures to ensure compliance with those requirements and for the requests for acquisition to be made timely and for the appropriate expenditure amount. Management’s Response See corrective action plan.