Finding 1227537 (2025-011)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
B
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2025
Accepted
2026-08-21

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: Inadequate documentation for 40 payroll disbursements related to IDEA-B, affecting compliance with federal requirements.
  • Impacted Requirements: The District failed to maintain necessary records to support payroll claims, risking non-compliance with federal guidelines.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Implement stronger documentation retention processes to ensure all payroll transactions are properly recorded and supported.

Finding Text

2025-011 IDEA-B PAYROLL CONTROLS Federal Program: Special Education Cluster Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Education Pass-Through Agency: New Mexico Public Education Department Assistance Listing Number: 84.027,84.173 Type of Finding: Significant Deficiency, Other Non-Compliance Compliance Area: Allowable costs/cost principles Federal Award Year: 2025 Questioned Costs: None Condition There were 40 payroll disbursements related to teachers who received payroll coded to IDEA-B for which we were unable to obtain contract amounts / payrates for seven disbursements (6 teachers). Criteria The Codification of Statements on Auditing Standards (SAS AU) paragraph 110.03 states that the financial statements are Management’s responsibility. Management is responsible for adopting sound accounting policies, and for establishing and maintaining internal control that will, among other things, initiate, authorize, record, process, and report transactions (as well as events and conditions) consistent with Management’s assertions embodied in the financial statements. Effect Without complete and accurate supporting documentation and evidence of approval, the District cannot demonstrate the Special Education Cluster claims were accurate and compliant with federal requirements. This increases the risk of questioned costs, repayment of funds, and increased oversight by the pass-through agency. Cause The District did not have adequate processes in place to ensure documentation retention for all transactions.

Corrective Action Plan

Recommendation The District should re-evaluate the control systems in place to ensure that all transactions have sufficient supporting documentation such that an independent third party could adequately review supporting documents and be able to conclude that the transaction was correctly recorded and reviewed. Management Response Corrective Action The New Director of Exceptional Programs (EXPRO), working along with the New Human Resources Department and New Director of Finance, has reviewed all contract amounts to ensure accurate disbursement including updated recommendation forms. Review of account strings specific to positions has also been reviewed and appropriately adjusted for accurate IDEA-B payroll disbursements. Implementation of new time sheet process with proper documentation and transparency. Files will be pulled to correct the condition. Due Date of Completion: June 30, 2027 Responsible Party(ies): Director of Human Resources, Director of Exceptional Programs, Director of Finance

Categories

Allowable Costs / Cost Principles Internal Control / Segregation of Duties Significant Deficiency

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1227531 2025-012
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1227532 2025-012
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1227533 2025-012
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1227534 2025-012
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1227535 2025-011
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1227536 2025-012
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1227538 2025-012
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1227539 2025-012
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1227540 2025-012
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1227541 2025-012
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1227542 2025-012
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1227543 2025-012
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1227544 2025-012
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1227545 2025-012
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1227546 2025-012
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1227547 2025-012
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1227548 2025-010
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1227549 2025-012
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1227550 2025-010
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1227551 2025-012
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1227552 2025-010
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1227553 2025-012
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1227554 2025-012
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
84.010 TITLE I GRANTS TO LOCAL EDUCATIONAL AGENCIES $959,449
84.367 SUPPORTING EFFECTIVE INSTRUCTION STATE GRANTS (FORMERLY IMPROVING TEACHER QUALITY STATE GRANTS) $871,688
84.425 EDUCATION STABILIZATION FUND $746,225
84.027 SPECIAL EDUCATION GRANTS TO STATES $739,333
84.334 GAINING EARLY AWARENESS AND READINESS FOR UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS $433,634
84.215 INNOVATIVE APPROACHES TO LITERACY; PROMISE NEIGHBORHOODS; FULL-SERVICE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS; AND CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING FOR ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION COMMUNITY PROJECTS $389,774
16.710 PUBLIC SAFETY PARTNERSHIP AND COMMUNITY POLICING GRANTS $194,012
84.048 CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION -- BASIC GRANTS TO STATES $149,523
84.424 STUDENT SUPPORT AND ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT PROGRAM $126,000
10.555 NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM $99,321
84.060 INDIAN EDUCATION GRANTS TO LOCAL EDUCATIONAL AGENCIES $82,096
10.582 FRESH FRUIT AND VEGETABLE PROGRAM $34,325
84.365 ENGLISH LANGUAGE ACQUISITION STATE GRANTS $26,456
84.173 SPECIAL EDUCATION PRESCHOOL GRANTS $20,862
84.196 EDUCATION FOR HOMELESS CHILDREN AND YOUTH $19,655
93.498 PROVIDER RELIEF FUND AND AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN (ARP) RURAL DISTRIBUTION $11,312