Finding 1227056 (2025-005)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
AB
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2025
Accepted
2026-08-17
Audit: 409231
Organization: County of Columbus (NC)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: One out of forty time sheets for TANF showed discrepancies, with more program minutes recorded on day sheets than on approved timesheets.
  • Impacted Requirements: Accurate tracking of employee time is crucial for proper federal and state reimbursement under TANF guidelines.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Implement a review control over weekly timesheets to ensure all program time is accurately reflected from day sheets.

Finding Text

Information on the federal program: Temporary Assistance Needy Families Cluster (TANF), Assistance Listing Number 93.558, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, passed through the N.C Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS), Division of Medical Assistance. Criteria: Per the NCDHHS policy manual, salaries, wages, and fringe benefits of Department of Social Service employees hired under the state merit system are allowable. Salaries shall be allocated to programs by time distribution methods and supported by payroll and attendance records for individuals. Condition: Employee’s time is tracked through the use of day sheets in which employees track their time by service code in 6-minute increments. Day sheets are used to complete weekly timesheets which are approved by supervisors. We noted one out of forty sheets selected for TANF had more program minutes than what was reported on the employee’s approved time sheet. Context/Cause: As the day sheets included more program time than was included on the employee’s approved timesheet, the time spent on this program was understated during the 1571 monthly reimbursement request to the State. We noted the above condition in one out of forty sheets selected for TANF. Effects: Inaccurate reporting of time coded to programs affects the total federal and state reimbursement for the program. Recommendation: We recommend that the County implements a review control over weekly timesheets to ensure the timesheets include all program time coded on the day sheets. Auditee’s Response: We concur with the finding.

Corrective Action Plan

2025-005 Significant Deficiency over Activities Allowed and Unallowed and Allowable Costs/Cost Principle (Repeat Finding) Information on the federal program: Temporary Assistance Needy Families Cluster (TANF), Assistance Listing Number 93.558, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, passed through the N.C Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS), Division of Medical Assistance. Criteria: Per the NCDHHS policy manual, salaries, wages, and fringe benefits of Department of Social Service employees hired under the state merit system are allowable. Salaries shall be allocated to programs by time distribution methods and supported by payroll and attendance records for individuals. Name of Contact Person: Dwella Hall, Social Services Director Corrective Action Plan: The County’s Department of Social Services is committed to strengthening internal controls to ensure the accurate reporting of time and program coding. The agency has implemented enhanced review protocols requiring supervisors to verify that weekly timesheets accurately reflect the time recorded on employee’s daily activity sheets prior to approval. In addition, the agency is reinforcing staff training on proper time distribution and coding requirement, increasing supervisory oversight, and establishing standardized review procedures to promote consistency and compliance. These measures are designed to improved documentation accuracy, strengthen accountability, and ensure that program reimbursements are supported by complete and accurate records. Proposed Completion Date: June 30, 2027

Categories

Reporting Cash Management

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1227052 2025-004
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1227053 2025-005
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1227054 2025-005
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1227055 2025-005
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
10.766 COMMUNITY FACILITIES LOANS AND GRANTS $52.07M
14.871 SECTION 8 HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHERS $2.19M
93.563 CHILD SUPPORT SERVICES $689,531
21.027 CORONAVIRUS STATE AND LOCAL FISCAL RECOVERY FUNDS $529,437
10.557 WIC SPECIAL SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION PROGRAM FOR WOMEN, INFANTS, AND CHILDREN $339,636
93.323 EPIDEMIOLOGY AND LABORATORY CAPACITY FOR INFECTIOUS DISEASES (ELC) $318,181
93.637 VISION RESEARCH - TRAINING, INDIVIDUAL $264,924
20.509 FORMULA GRANTS FOR RURAL AREAS AND TRIBAL TRANSIT PROGRAM $194,075
20.106 AIRPORT IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM, INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT AND JOBS ACT PROGRAMS, AND COVID-19 AIRPORTS PROGRAMS $152,343
93.596 CHILD CARE MANDATORY AND MATCHING FUNDS OF THE CHILD CARE AND DEVELOPMENT FUND $140,553
20.600 STATE AND COMMUNITY HIGHWAY SAFETY $132,935
66.818 BROWNFIELDS MULTIPURPOSE, ASSESSMENT, REVOLVING LOAN FUND, AND CLEANUP COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS $125,605
93.045 SPECIAL PROGRAMS FOR THE AGING, TITLE III, PART C, NUTRITION SERVICES $119,052
93.994 MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH SERVICES BLOCK GRANT TO THE STATES $109,248
93.767 CHILDREN'S HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM $99,867
93.110 SPECIAL PROJECTS OF REGIONAL AND NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE $93,421
93.658 FOSTER CARE TITLE IV-E $49,854
93.217 FAMILY PLANNING SERVICES $42,331
10.561 STATE ADMINISTRATIVE MATCHING GRANTS FOR THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM $41,685
97.042 EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERFORMANCE GRANTS $41,000
93.667 SOCIAL SERVICES BLOCK GRANT $39,085
93.568 LOW-INCOME HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE $37,217
93.069 PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS $34,969
93.991 PREVENTIVE HEALTH AND HEALTH SERVICES BLOCK GRANT $34,178
93.556 MARYLEE ALLEN PROMOTING SAFE AND STABLE FAMILIES PROGRAM $30,404
93.558 TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE FOR NEEDY FAMILIES $27,307
93.778 GRANTS TO STATES FOR MEDICAID $24,984
93.053 NUTRITION SERVICES INCENTIVE PROGRAM $24,872
93.674 JOHN H. CHAFEE FOSTER CARE PROGRAM FOR SUCCESSFUL TRANSITION TO ADULTHOOD $20,823
93.043 SPECIAL PROGRAMS FOR THE AGING, TITLE III, PART D, DISEASE PREVENTION AND HEALTH PROMOTION SERVICES $19,267
93.898 CANCER PREVENTION AND CONTROL PROGRAMS FOR STATE, TERRITORIAL AND TRIBAL ORGANIZATIONS $8,500
93.052 NATIONAL FAMILY CAREGIVER SUPPORT, TITLE III, PART E $4,500
93.645 STEPHANIE TUBBS JONES CHILD WELFARE SERVICES PROGRAM $2,654
93.659 ADOPTION ASSISTANCE $925
93.977 SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES (STD) PREVENTION AND CONTROL GRANTS $142
93.116 PROJECT GRANTS AND COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS FOR TUBERCULOSIS CONTROL PROGRAMS $50
93.268 IMMUNIZATION COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS $-910