Finding 1238525 (2025-001)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
B
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2025
Accepted
2026-09-30

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: There is a lack of proper internal controls over payroll cost allocations, leading to inaccuracies in federal program expenses.
  • Impacted Requirements: Compliance with 2 CFR §200.430(i) regarding accurate record-keeping for salaries and wages.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Increase the frequency of payroll reconciliations and improve wage allocation procedures to align with the payroll cycle.

Finding Text

Finding 2025-001 Program Affected Under the U.S. Department of Treasury - Award Year July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2026: Assistance Listing 21.027 Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds Criteria 2 CFR §200.430(i) specifies that "Charges to Federal awards for salaries and wages must be based on records that accurately reflect the work performed. These records must: Be supported by a system of internal control which provides reasonable assurance that the charges are accurate, allowable, and properly allocated..." Condition and Context During our program audit procedures related to the payroll cycle, we noted an internal control deficiency related to allocation of payroll costs among federally funded programs. Management did not perform sufficient review and retention of payroll allocations to identify that payroll expenses allocated to the program were being recorded in accordance with readily available wage and time and effort data. Cause and Effect The condition identified was caused by infrequent and periodic review of program-related payroll costs which were reconciled on a biannual basis. This process did not occur on a pay period basis. This resulted in an overstatement of program-related payroll expenses of $6,348. Questioned Costs $498,189.43 Identification as a Repeat Finding, if Applicable Not applicable. Recommendation We recommend the Organization strengthen controls surrounding program-related record keeping, including increasing the frequency of reconciliations and program wage allocation procedures to match the payroll cycle. Views of Responsible Officials and Corrective Action Plan Management agrees with the finding. See attached Corrective Action Plan.

Corrective Action Plan

Corrective Action Plan Finding 2025-001 The District’s former operator of its network was contractually required to keep the accounting records for the District. Part of this obligation was to perform calculations for estimating the cost of the labor each pay period that was spent by the operator to build out the network and connect new customers and provide those calculations to the District. Additionally, the operator was contractually required to provide the underlying detail payroll records that support the calculations. The operator provided only some of the calculations and none of the detail payroll records supporting the calculations due to ongoing litigation. Effective January 1, 2026 the District hired a new operator and is now obtaining those calculations and underlying support on an ongoing basis from the new operator. Estimated Completion Date: January 2026 Responsible Party: Daniel Childs, Treasurer

Categories

Internal Control / Segregation of Duties Allowable Costs / Cost Principles

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
21.027 CORONAVIRUS STATE AND LOCAL FISCAL RECOVERY FUNDS $5.94M