Finding 1224130 (2025-001)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
A
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2025
Accepted
2026-07-20
Audit: 407516
Organization: TOWN OF DENTON (MT)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The Town of Denton lacks sufficient documentation to verify the historical cost of certain capital assets, impacting the accuracy of reported values.
  • Impacted Requirements: Capital assets must be reported at historical cost, including all necessary ancillary charges, as per GASB guidelines and MCA regulations.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: The Town should actively seek out and compile supporting documentation for capital assets to ensure compliance and accurate reporting.

Finding Text

2025-001 Capital Asset Accounting and Reporting Criteria: Capital assets should be reported at historical cost. The cost of a capital asset should include ancillary charges necessary to place the asset into its intended location and condition for use. Ancillary charges include costs that are directly attributable to asset acquisition - such as freight and transportation charges, site preparation costs, and professional fees. Interest costs incurred before the end of a construction period should not be capitalized as part of the asset's historical cost. (GASB Cod. 1400.102) MCA 20-9-207 requires districts to “provide sufficient documentation for each expenditure of district money”. Condition: The Town of Denton is only required to be audited when revenues or federal expenditures exceed $750,000. As such, we were unable to verify the beginning balances for certain capital assets previously purchased. The Town could not provide appropriate supporting documentation to enable the audit of certain assets; however, the Town does maintain a detailed listing and depreciation schedule for the assets. Effect: The value of capital assets reported has not been verified by an independent auditor. Context: Fund Reported % Audited % Unaudited Governmental $ 2,115,436 4% 96% Water 7,520,285 34% 66% Sewer 5,262,322 41% 59% Cause: Due to its small size, the Town is not subject to audit requirements in Montana on a regular basis. Management has previously elected to not incur the costs to get the assets reported verified. Recommendation: We recommend the Town continue its effort to locate supporting documentation for capital assets included in its capital assets subsidiary ledger.

Corrective Action Plan

Finding 2025-001 Capital Asset Accounting and Reporting-The town has a fixed asset file where we have researched recent fixed asset purchases. The cost benefit of researching costs as far back as 1913 is cost effective for all capital purchases. We will continue to work on updating the file for new purchases so that the fixed asset value can be confirmed in the future.

Categories

Procurement, Suspension & Debarment Reporting

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1224129 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
21.027 CORONAVIRUS STATE AND LOCAL FISCAL RECOVERY FUNDS $1.53M