Finding 1227377 (2025-002)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
B
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2025
Accepted
2026-08-19

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The Organization paid fringe benefits to the CEO without a written policy, violating compliance requirements.
  • Impacted Requirements: Noncompliance with 2 CFR section 200.431 of the Uniform Guidance regarding allowable costs for fringe benefits.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Implement procedures to ensure all expenditures comply with federal guidelines before they are made.

Finding Text

Compliance Requirement B. Allowable Costs Finding Type Noncompliance Over $25,000 Federal Agency U.S. Department of Health and Human Services U.S. Department of Energy Federal Program Title Administration for Children & Families - Head Start (93.600) Community Service Block Grant (93.569) Weatherization Assistance for Low Income Persons (81.042) Assistance Listing Numbers 93.600/93.569/81.042 Criteria: 2 CFR section 200.431 of the Uniform Guidance provides fringe benefits are allowances and services employers provide to their employees as compensation in addition to regular salaries and wages. Fringe benefits include, but are not limited to, the costs of leave, employee insurance, pensions, and unemployment benefits. Except as provided elsewhere, the costs of fringe benefits are allowable provided that the benefits are reasonable and are required by law, an organization-employee agreement, or an established written leave policy of the recipient or subrecipient. Condition: The Organization paid fringe benefits to the CEO without having a written policy covering such benefits. Cause: Lack of awareness of fringe benefits allowed under Uniform Guidance. Effect: Failure to have a written leave policy causes the Organization to be out of compliance with Uniform Guidance and results in the payment of unallowable costs by the Organization. Questioned Costs: $ 32,154 Identification as a Repeat Finding: N/A - this was not reported as a finding in the prior audit report. Context: During the year ended June 30, 2025, the CEO of the Organization was on leave for a significant amount of time. During this time, the Organization continued to pay the CEO their normal salary and charged a portion of the payments to federal funded programs. The employee filed for and received short-term disability and endorsed all insurance checks over to the Organization. Recommendations: We recommend that procedures be implemented to ensure that all expenditures are in compliance with 2 CFR 200 Office of Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards Uniform Guidance before are expended. View of Responsible Officials: The Organization agrees with this finding.

Corrective Action Plan

While the organization has a written leave policy it does not address specific leave benefits for the CEO. The CEO has drafted a CEO Compensation and Benefits Policy to be reviewed by the Board and revised or approved at the October 21, 2026 Board of Directors meeting. Responsible Individual: Chief Executive Officer – Wilma Torres Estimated Completion Date: October 21, 2026

Categories

Allowable Costs / Cost Principles

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1227378 2025-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1227379 2025-004
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1227380 2025-005
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1227381 2025-006
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1227382 2025-007
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1227383 2025-008
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1227384 2025-009
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1227385 2025-010
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
93.600 HEAD START $4.10M
21.027 CORONAVIRUS STATE AND LOCAL FISCAL RECOVERY FUNDS $279,599
10.558 CHILD AND ADULT CARE FOOD PROGRAM $259,445
93.569 COMMUNITY SERVICES BLOCK GRANT $130,204
93.568 LOW-INCOME HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE $61,680
14.218 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANTS/ENTITLEMENT GRANTS $25,652
14.169 HOUSING COUNSELING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM $6,775
81.042 WEATHERIZATION ASSISTANCE FOR LOW-INCOME PERSONS $345