Finding 1226336 (2025-001)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
AB
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2025
Accepted
2026-08-12
Audit: 408974
Auditor: EIDE BAILLY LLP

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: There are weaknesses in the internal controls over compliance, specifically regarding the documentation of material inventory expenses submitted for federal reimbursement.
  • Impacted Requirements: The lack of procedures to verify replacement costs for inventory transactions could lead to financial misstatements.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Conduct a detailed review and reconciliation of all supporting documents for expenditures before claiming reimbursements.

Finding Text

Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management North Dakota Department of Emergency Services 4760DR-ND-749691, 2025 Federal Financial Assistance Listing 97.036 Disaster Grant – Public Assistance Allowable Costs/Activities Allowed or Unallowed Material Weakness in Internal Control Over Compliance Criteria – A good system of internal accounting control contemplates an adequate system for ensuring documentation of expenditures, including material inventory transactions, is reviewed and maintained. Condition – In our testing of allowable costs and activities, we noted instances where materials inventory expenses were submitted for federal reimbursement at a cost per unit that did not agree to the replacement cost. Cause – Procedures are not in place to adequately identify improper replacement costs applied to material inventory transactions. Effect – The deficiency could result in a misstatement to the financial statements that would not be prevented or detected. Questioned Costs – None reported. Context/Sampling – A nonstatistical sample of 63 transactions out of a population greater than 250 total transactions were selected for testing, which accounted for $474,885 of $1,775,771 of federal program expenditures. Repeat Finding from Prior Years – Yes, 2024-001 Recommendation – A thorough review and reconciliation of supporting documentation for expenditures, including material inventory transactions, should be performed before amounts are claimed for reimbursement. Views of Responsible Officials – There is no disagreement with the audit finding.

Corrective Action Plan

Finding 2025-001 Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management Federal Financial Assistance Listing 97.036 Disaster Grant Public Assistance Allowable Costs/Activities Allowed or Unallowed Material Weakness in Internal Control over Compliance Finding Summary: In the testing of allowable costs and activities, there were instances where material inventory expenses were submitted for federal reimbursement at a cost per unit that did not agree to the replacement cost. Responsible Individuals: Troy Knutson, Andy Weiss, and Ann Watson Corrective Action Plan: The Cooperative will perform a thorough review and reconciliation of supporting documentation for expenditures, including material transactions, before amounts are claimed for reimbursement. Anticipated Completion Date: December 31, 2026

Categories

Questioned Costs Allowable Costs / Cost Principles Cash Management Material Weakness Equipment & Real Property Management Internal Control / Segregation of Duties

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
97.036 DISASTER GRANTS - PUBLIC ASSISTANCE (PRESIDENTIALLY DECLARED DISASTERS) $1.78M