Finding 1206396 (2025-005)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
B
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2025
Accepted
2026-04-10
Audit: 398399
Organization: Dolton West School District 148 (IL)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The District claimed expenses without adequate documentation, violating federal requirements for internal controls and cost principles.
  • Impacted Requirements: Non-compliance with 2 CFR Part 200 regarding documentation for federal awards and cost principles.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Strengthen internal controls to ensure all expenditures are properly documented before reimbursement requests are submitted.

Finding Text

Criteria or specific requirement: Per Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations Part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (2 CFR Part 200) Subpart D, Post Federal Award Requirements Section 200.303, Internal controls, the recipient must establish, document and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the recipient is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. Per 2 CFR Part 200, Subpart E, Cost Principles, the accounting practices of the recipient must be consistent with the cost principles and support the accumulation of costs as required by the cost principles, including maintaining adequate documentation to support costs charged to the Federal award. Condition: The District claimed expenditures that did not have adequate supporting documentation, such as invoices, receipts, purchase orders and proof of payment. Cause: The District's internal controls over compliance were not functioning effectively to ensure reimbursements were claimed for only actual expenditures incurred and supported by adequate documentation. Effect: The District was not in compliance with the allowable costs/cost principles compliance requirement. Questioned Costs: The following questioned costs were computed based on differences between the amounts claimed for reimbursement by the District and its expenditure accounting records: $1,185 (Project No. 24-4300-00) $10,423 (Project No. 25-4331-00) Context: The condition noted was identified upon reconciling reimbursements claimed by the District to the general ledger accounts in which related expenditures were recorded and investigation of differences identified. Recommendation: We recommend the District strengthen internal controls to ensure all expenditures charged to federal programs are supported by proper documentation prior to being submitted for reimbursement. Documentation should be retained in accordance with federal record retention requirements. Management's response: The District agrees with the auditor's finding and recommendation.

Corrective Action Plan

Condition: The District claimed expenditures that did not have adequate supporting documentation, such as invoices, receipts, purchase orders and proof of payment. Plan: Management will review its policies and procedures and implement changes to strengthen internal control over compliance. Grant expenditures will be reviewed and approved by appropriate personnel prior to reimbursement requests being submitted. Responsible Person: Dr. Mable Alfred, Interim Superintendent. Anticipated Completion Date: June 30, 2026

Categories

Allowable Costs / Cost Principles Procurement, Suspension & Debarment Cash Management

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1206393 2025-004
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1206394 2025-004
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1206395 2025-005
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1206397 2025-006
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
84.027 SPECIAL EDUCATION GRANTS TO STATES $836,886
10.553 SCHOOL BREAKFAST PROGRAM $503,336
10.558 CHILD AND ADULT CARE FOOD PROGRAM $345,612
84.367 SUPPORTING EFFECTIVE INSTRUCTION STATE GRANTS (FORMERLY IMPROVING TEACHER QUALITY STATE GRANTS) $216,114
84.010 TITLE I GRANTS TO LOCAL EDUCATIONAL AGENCIES $186,764
84.424 STUDENT SUPPORT AND ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT PROGRAM $169,575
93.778 MEDICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM $143,773
84.425 EDUCATION STABILIZATION FUND $86,252
84.173 SPECIAL EDUCATION PRESCHOOL GRANTS $42,748
10.555 NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM $39,535
84.365 ENGLISH LANGUAGE ACQUISITION STATE GRANTS $10,170
10.559 SUMMER FOOD SERVICE PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN $3,046