Finding 1218079 (2024-002)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
B
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2024
Accepted
2026-06-22

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: Errors in indirect cost calculations led to overstated costs and grant funds receivable.
  • Impacted Requirements: All Federal Awards listed on SEFA are affected, resulting in significant financial discrepancies.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Implement check figures in spreadsheets and consider hiring a CFO for improved oversight and accuracy in financial reporting.

Finding Text

2024-002 – US Department of Agriculture – Federal Assistance Listing Number 10.XXX Circuit Rider Program and Federal Assistance Listing Number 10.761 Wastewater Technical Assistance and Training Criteria: The Association uses an indirect cost rate to allocate indirect costs to Federal Award Programs. Management is responsible for ensuring that the indirect cost calculations are prepared accurately and journal entries are accurately posted to allocated indirect costs to federal programs. Condition: Errors were identified in the spreadsheets used to calculate the indirect cost rate and record journal entries to allocate these costs to the various programs. Cause: In preparing and reviewing the spreadsheet, check figures were not used to verify that total costs allocated agreed to total costs available to allocate. Effect: Indirect costs allocated to programs were overstated due to the error identified with the formula, which also resulted in grant funds receivable being overstated. 2024-002 – Impacts all Federal Awards listed on SEFA Effect: continued: Program Decrease to Indirect Expense Impact to Grant Revenues USDA Circuit Rider Program 10.XXX $ 23,499 $ (9,468) Source Water Protection Project 10.XXX $ 9,230 $(14,046) Wastewater Tech. Assistance 10.761 $ 12,772 $ (7,000) Disaster Recovery Circuit Rider 10.761 $ 13 $ 1,816 US EPA Training and Technical Assistance 66.424 $ 12,564 $(12,564) Private Drinking Water Well Owners 66.436 $ 1,143 $ (1,143) Wastewater Treatment Works – Tech 66.446 $ 1,618 $ (1,618) Wastewater Treatment Works – Tribal 66.446 $ 281 $ (281) Wastewater Treatment Works – Decentralized 66.446 $ 555 $ (555) US Department of Labor Apprenticeship/Congressionally Directed Spending 17.289 $ 7,885 $ (7,885) Recommendations: We recommend adding check figures to this spreadsheet as a way to verify the calculation is complete and accurate, as well as the journal entry to reclassify the expense to the Association’s programs. Responses: The Association agrees with this finding and is in the process of setting up this procedure. The Association also feels that hiring a CFO will provide additional oversight over this calculation and posting of journal entries for indirect costs. Once the procedures have been set up and implemented the Association believes it will be in a much better position to attain accurate financial reporting.

Corrective Action Plan

The Association agrees with this finding and is in the process of setting up this procedure. The Association also feels that hiring a CFO will provide additional oversight over this calculation and posting of journal entries for indirect costs. Once the procedures have been set up and implemented the Association believes it will be in a much better position to attain accurate financial reporting.

Categories

Reporting

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1218070 2024-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1218071 2024-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1218072 2024-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1218073 2024-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1218074 2024-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1218075 2024-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1218076 2024-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1218077 2024-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1218078 2024-002
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
10.U01 RURAL UTILITIES SERVICE: CIRCUIT RIDER PROGRAM $278,029
66.424 SURVEYS, STUDIES, INVESTIGATIONS, DEMONSTRATIONS, AND TRAINING GRANTS - SECTION 1442 OF THE SAFE DRINKING WATER ACT $127,794
17.289 COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING/CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING $104,692
10.U02 FARM SERVICE AGENCY: SOURCE WATER PROTECTION PROJECT $103,688
66.446 TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR TREATMENT WORKS (CLEAN WATER ACT [CWA] SECTION 104(B)(8)) $30,177
10.761 WATER AND WASTE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING GRANTS $1,816
66.436 SURVEYS, STUDIES, INVESTIGATIONS, DEMONSTRATIONS, AND TRAINING GRANTS AND COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS - SECTION 104(B)(3) OF THE CLEAN WATER ACT $334