Finding 1206079 (2025-005)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
AB
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2025
Accepted
2026-04-07

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: Payroll controls for the Continuum of Care Program were inadequate, leading to inaccuracies in payroll expenditures for the first half of fiscal year 2025.
  • Impacted Requirements: Compliance with 2 CFR 200.430(g)(1)(i) was not met, as payroll charges lacked proper documentation and internal controls.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Address the identified weaknesses by improving payroll documentation and controls, and review findings from financial statement 2025-002 for further guidance.

Finding Text

2025-005 Allowability of Payroll Expenditures U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT Continuum of Care Program—Assistance Listing No. 14.267 Hennepin County Contract HS00001366; Grant Period – Year ended June 30, 2025 Material Weakness in Internal Control over Compliance, Noncompliance Other Matter Criteria: 2 CFR 200.430(g)(1)(i) states charges to Federal awards for salaries and wages must be based on records that accurately reflect the work performed, supported by a system of internal control that provides reasonable assurance that the charges are accurate, allowable, and properly allocated. Refer to financial statement finding 2025-002 for further context. Condition: Payroll controls were not adequately designed or implemented to accurately account for payroll expenditures charged to the Continuum of Care Program for the first half of fiscal year 2025 (July 1, 2024 through December 31, 2024). In addition, supporting payroll documentation was missing or incomplete for certain individual payroll allocations charged to the program during this period. Refer to financial statement finding 2025-002 for further context. Cause: Refer to financial statement finding 2025-002. Effect: Refer to financial statement finding 2025-002. Context: A statistically valid sample of 41 payroll entries by employee totaling $67,977 was selected for testing from a population of more than 250 individual payroll entries totaling $208,015. The audit identified nine instances in which payroll controls were not followed. Refer to Financial Statement Finding 2025-002 for further context. Extrapolated likely questioned costs total $16,525, representing 2.9% of total payroll costs allocated to this program. Known Questioned Costs: Total known questioned costs of $4,940. Identification of Repeat Finding: 2024-001 - Lack of Documentation in Personnel Files Recommendation: Refer to financial statement finding 2025-002. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: Refer to financial statement finding 2025-002.

Corrective Action Plan

2025-05 Allowability of Payroll Expenditures (repeat finding see 2025-02} Federal Agency- US Department of Housing and Urban Development Continuum of Care Program -Assistance Listing# 14.267 Hennepin County Contract HS00001366 Year ended June 30, 2025 Material Weakness in Internal Control over Compliance, Noncompliance Other Matter Recommendation - Controls be strengthened to ensure the accuracy and completeness of payroll documentation and additional training be provided to staff involved in the payroll process to ensure policies and procedures are followed. Personnel files should include complete and approved documentation of employee pay rates and verified final allocations to programs. Payroll documentation should include an after-the-fact determination of actual hours worked in each program or function of Agate Housing and Services, Inc. Corrective action -Agate Housing and Services, Inc. implemented a new payroll system on January 1, 2025 which incorporates built-in authorization controls and requires all employees to submit time based on actual hours worked in each program or function of the agency where required and by contract allocation method where approved. Management has also reviewed the pay-rate discrepancy identified during the audit and has taken corrective action to ensure the employee was compensated accurately. Going forward, management will perform periodic reviews to confirm pay rate changes are properly documented and that all payroll entries align with approved personnel records. Name of contact person responsible for corrective action - Donna Rapacz, Chief Operating Officer Completion date - Management implemented the above procedure as of January 1, 2025.

Categories

Allowable Costs / Cost Principles

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1206077 2025-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1206078 2025-004
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1206080 2025-006
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1206081 2025-007
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
14.267 CONTINUUM OF CARE PROGRAM $1.50M
14.231 EMERGENCY SOLUTIONS GRANT PROGRAM $166,714