Finding 1206397 (2025-006)

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

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The District did not charge program expenditures according to the approved grant budget, leading to non-compliance with federal requirements.
  • Impacted Requirements: Internal controls over compliance were ineffective, failing to ensure expenditures aligned with allowed activities as per federal regulations.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Strengthen controls by reviewing invoices against the approved budget before claiming, including management oversight and regular reconciliation of expenditures.

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. The requirements for activities allowed or unallowed are contained in program legislation, federal awarding agency regulations, and the terms and conditions of the award. Condition: The District incurred program expenditures that were not charged in accordance with the approved grant budget. Cause: The District's internal controls over compliance were not functioning effectively to ensure program expenditures were compliant with the activities allowed or unallowed compliance requirement. Effect: The District was not in compliance with the activities allowed or unallowed compliance requirement. Questioned Costs:The following questioned costs were computed based on exceptions identified in the activities allowed or unallowed compliance testing performed: $10,016 (Project No. 25-4300-00) Context: From the population of non-payroll expenditures totaling $1,230,248, a sample of forty (40) transactions totaling $123,816 were selected for testing, from which two (2) transactions totaling $10,016 were considered exceptions. A statistically valid sample was not utilized. Recommendation: We recommend that the District strengthen controls over expenditure coding and grant claiming processes by ensuring invoices are reviewed against the approved budget detail prior to claiming. This should include management review and periodic reconciliation of claimed expenditures to the grant budget. Management's response: The District agrees with the auditor's finding and recommendation.

Corrective Action Plan

Condition: The District incurred program expenditures that were not charged in accordance with the approved grant budget. Plan: Management will review its policies and procedures and implement changes to strengthen internal control over compliance. The District will strengthen internal controls to ensure expenditures are reviewed for compliance with the approved grant budget prior to being claimed for reimbursement. Going forward, the District will compare expenditures to the approved budget detail and ensure costs are charged to the appropriate budget category.Responsible Person: Dr. Mable Alfred, Interim Superintendent. Anticipated Completion Date: June 30, 2026

Categories

Allowable Costs / Cost Principles Internal Control / Segregation of Duties

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1206393 2025-004
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1206394 2025-004
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1206395 2025-005
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1206396 2025-005
    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