Finding 1239504 (2025-002)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
C
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2025
Accepted
2026-09-30
Audit: 414238
Organization: Ecology Education, Inc. (ME)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The School failed to meet its monthly loan reserve requirements, leading to a default on its loan agreement.
  • Impacted Requirements: Compliance with federal guidelines set by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for funding loan reserve accounts.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Management should create a systematic process to ensure ongoing compliance with reserve requirements and collaborate with USDA for a workout plan.

Finding Text

Reserve Account Compliance – Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Agriculture. Award Name: Community Facilities Loans and Grants Program. Program Year: January 1, 2025 – December 31, 2025. Assistance Listing Number: 10.766. Type of Finding: Material weakness in internal controls over major federal program. Criteria: Ecology Education, Inc. (the School) is required to fund certain loan reserve accounts on a monthly basis in accordance with requirements prescribed by the United States Department of Agriculture. Condition: During 2025, the School did not fulfill its loan reserve requirements, causing the School to be in default of its loan agreement. Cause: The School was unable to fulfill the reserve requirements as a result of cash flow challenges encountered during the fiscal year. Effect: Reserve requirements are not fulfilled in accordance with federal guidelines. Recommendation: We recommend that management should develop and implement a systematic process to restore and maintain the required levels to maintain compliance with reserve requirements going forward. View of Responsible Officials: Management will continue to work with USDA Rural Development on workout plan including implementing a systematic process to restore and maintain on a monthly basis the required levels to maintain compliance with reserve requirements going forward.

Corrective Action Plan

Reserve Account Compliance – Criteria: Ecology Education, Inc. (the School) is required to fund certain loan reserve accounts on a monthly basis in accordance with requirements prescribed by the United States Department of Agriculture. Condition: During 2025, the School did not fulfill its loan reserve requirements, causing the School to be in default of its loan agreement. Cause: The School was unable to fulfill the reserve requirements as a result of cash flow challenges encountered during the fiscal year. Effect: Reserve requirements are not fulfilled in accordance with federal guidelines. Recommendation: We recommend that management should develop and implement a systematic process to restore and maintain the required levels to maintain compliance with reserve requirements going forward. Responsible Parties: Drew Dumsch (President/CEO) and Anthony Pyatt (Business Manager). Corrective Action Taken or Planned: Continuing to work with USDA Rural Development on workout plan including implementing a systematic process to restore and maintain on a monthly basis the required levels to maintain compliance with reserve requirements going forward.

Categories

Material Weakness Matching / Level of Effort / Earmarking Internal Control / Segregation of Duties

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1239505 2025-003
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
10.766 COMMUNITY FACILITIES LOANS AND GRANTS $8.31M
10.935 URBAN AGRICULTURE AND INNOVATIVE PRODUCTION GRANTS PROGRAM (UAIP) $120,146