Finding 1227225 (2025-002)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
C
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2025
Accepted
2026-08-18

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The entity drew the maximum allowable advance for LIHEAP funds without proper documentation of immediate cash needs, leading to idle federal funds.
  • Impacted Requirements: This practice violates 2 CFR 200.305(b), which mandates that cash advances be limited to actual, immediate needs and closely timed with expenditures.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Strengthen cash management procedures by requiring documented cash flow forecasts, supervisory review of draw requests, and regular reconciliation of cash balances to ensure compliance.

Finding Text

2025-002: Compliance Finding – Cash Management Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) (ALN 93.568) Condition: During audit testing of LIHEAP cash management, we noted the entity drew the maximum allowable 50% advance at the onset of the grant period. The advance was drawn solely because it represented the maximum amount permitted under the award rather than being based on documented immediate or near-term cash requirements. At the time of the draw, the entity did not prepare or retain cash flow projections, disbursement schedules, or other documentation demonstrating that the amount requested was limited to minimum cash needs. Approximately 30 days after receipt of the advance, a significant portion of the funds remained unexpended. Criteria or specific requirement: Per 2 CFR 200.305(b), advances of federal funds must be limited to the minimum amounts needed and timed in accordance with the actual, immediate cash requirements of the non-Federal entity in carrying out the purpose of the approved program. In addition, 2 CFR 200.305(b) requires that the timing and amount of cash drawdowns minimize the time elapsing between transfer of funds and disbursement by the non- Federal entity. Cause: Management did not design or implement effective procedures to ensure that federal cash draws were based on documented cash needs. Instead, staff interpreted the maximum allowable advance percentage under the award as the default draw amount, without performing a cash flow analysis or documenting anticipated disbursement needs. Effect: The entity received federal cash in excess of immediate program needs, resulting in idle federal funds on hand for approximately 30 days. This practice is not consistent with the requirements of 2 CFR 200.305, which require advances to be limited to minimum amounts needed and disbursed in close timing with program expenditures. This increases the risk of noncompliance with federal cash management requirements and may create potential exposure to interest liability depending on aggregate interest earned and applicable thresholds. Questioned costs: No questioned costs were identified. Recommendation: We recommend the entity strengthen cash management procedures to ensure compliance with 2 CFR 200.305 by requiring all federal drawdowns to be supported by documented cash flow forecasts or near-term disbursement schedules, ensuring cash draws are based on actual, immediate cash needs rather than maximum allowable advance limits, implementing supervisory review and approval of draw requests to confirm alignment with anticipated expenditures, and periodically reconciling cash balances to expected disbursement timing to ensure advances are minimized and timely utilized.

Corrective Action Plan

CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN — Finding 2025-002 Compliance Finding – Cash Management | Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) (ALN 93.568) Entity: Southeastern Vermont Community Action, Inc. (SEVCA) | Pass-Through Entity: State of Vermont Department for Children and Families | Cognizant Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services | CAP Contact: Joshua Davis, Executive Director, JDavis@sevca.org 1. Summary of Finding Finding 2025-002 identified that SEVCA drew the maximum allowable 50% advance under the LIHEAP award at the onset of the grant period without a documented cash flow forecast or disbursement schedule demonstrating that the amount drawn was limited to actual, immediate program needs. Approximately 30 days after receipt, a significant portion of the advance remained unexpended. This is not consistent with 2 CFR 200.305(b), which requires advances to be limited to the minimum amounts needed and timed to minimize the elapsed time between receipt and disbursement of funds. 2. Management’s Response SEVCA concurs with the finding. No questioned costs were identified. Management is implementing the corrective actions below. 3. Corrective Actions 1. Develop and implement a written Cash Management Procedure requiring that each advance drawdown request be supported by a documented cash flow forecast / disbursement schedule covering the period through the next expected draw date for that award, in accordance with 2 CFR 200.305(b) — Finance Director; 9/1/26. 2. Limit advance drawdown amounts to anticipated disbursements through the next scheduled draw date, rather than defaulting to the maximum allowable advance percentage — Finance Director; 9/1/26. 3. Formalize Finance Director review and sign-off of draw requests, and require independent review and sign-off by the Executive Director prior to submission, to explicitly document verification of the supporting forecast and the next expected draw date, and the amount requested — Finance Director / Executive Director; 9/1/26. 4. Use a single recurring draw worksheet per award documenting cash on hand, anticipated disbursements through the next draw date, and the amount requested, while reconciling the prior draw’s actual disbursements against projections and flagging any idle balances — Finance Director; 9/1/26. 5. Train relevant staff on the updated procedure and 2 CFR 200.305 requirements, and retain completed draw worksheets to support future audit testing — Finance Director / Accounting Staff; 9/1/26, retention ongoing. 4. Anticipated Completion Date 9/1/26. 5. Monitoring The Finance Director will review completed draw worksheets as part of each draw cycle; the Executive Director will independently review and sign off on each draw worksheet prior to submission, and will assess quarterly whether advances are being appropriately sized and timely utilized across federal awards. Draw worksheets, supporting forecasts, and sign-offs will be retained to support future audit testing.

Categories

Cash Management

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1227222 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1227223 2025-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1227224 2025-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1227226 2025-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1227227 2025-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1227228 2025-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1227229 2025-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1227230 2025-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1227231 2025-003
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
93.568 LOW-INCOME HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE $597,202
93.569 COMMUNITY SERVICES BLOCK GRANT $484,753
21.023 EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM $326,073
81.042 WEATHERIZATION ASSISTANCE FOR LOW-INCOME PERSONS $301,008
21.027 CORONAVIRUS STATE AND LOCAL FISCAL RECOVERY FUNDS $289,570
93.600 HEAD START $213,103
10.558 CHILD AND ADULT CARE FOOD PROGRAM $80,829
10.433 RURAL HOUSING PRESERVATION GRANTS $44,635
10.561 STATE ADMINISTRATIVE MATCHING GRANTS FOR THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM $28,614
21.009 VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE (VITA) MATCHING GRANT PROGRAM $23,813
93.434 EVERY STUDENT SUCCEEDS ACT/PRESCHOOL DEVELOPMENT GRANTS $13,896
93.570 COMMUNITY SERVICES BLOCK GRANT DISCRETIONARY AWARDS $4,410