Finding 1718 (2021-001)

Significant Deficiency
Requirement
A
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2021
Accepted
2023-11-13

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The Museum initially included payroll costs in their SVOG application that were already reimbursed through the PPP, making them ineligible.
  • Impacted Requirements: SVOG funds can only cover personnel costs not reimbursed by other Federal sources, per SBA guidelines.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: The Museum should implement procedures to verify expense eligibility and amend their closeout form to exclude previously reimbursed costs.

Finding Text

Criteria: Per the U.S. Small Business Administration Shuttered Venue Operators Grant Post-Award Frequently Asked Questions - 2022, Question 45, "grantees may use SVOG funds to pay personnel costs that have not already been reimbursed by other Federal funding sources, such as a PPP or EIDL, or wages credited through the Paid Sick and Family Leave Credits." Condition: During our testing of Museum's initially reported allowable and eligible costs, we noted that the Museum originally included payroll expenses which were already reimbursed through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Federal funding source. Since these expenses were already reimbursed through another Federal funding source, there were not eligible expenses for the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant program. Subsequently, the Museum amended their initially reported SVOG closeout form to include revised eligible expenses which were not reimbursed through a Federal funding source, including the PPP. Through our additional testing procedures, we determined that there were no questioned costs required to be reported. Cause: The Museum did not have controls in place to ensure that the eligible costs were not identified as being reimbursed by other Federal funding sources. Recommendation: We recommend that the Museum implement procedures that ensure that the expenses used for Federal funding sources meet the required program eligibility criteria. Views of responsible officials and planned corrective actions: The Museum concurs with the recommendation. The Museum has implemented a new procedure to verify that expenses incurred for the Shuttered Venue Operator Grants program met the eligibility criteria established by the program, including that the expenses were not reimbursed by other Federal funding sources. In addition, the Museum is in the process of amending the previously submitted closeout form with the Small Business Administration to remove any expenses for which reimbursement was already received by other Federal funding sources. The Museum strives to continuously identify methods to improve internal controls.

Corrective Action Plan

The Museum concurs with the recommendation. The Museum has implemented a new procedure to verify that expenses incurred for the Shuttered Venue Operator Grants program met the eligibility criteria established by the program, including that the expenses were not reimbursed by other Federal funding sources. In addition, the Museum is in the process of amending the previously submitted closeout form with the Small Business Administration to remove any expenses for which reimbursement was already received by other Federal funding sources. The Museum strives to continuously identify methods to improve internal controls.

Categories

Cash Management Eligibility Internal Control / Segregation of Duties

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1719 2021-002
    Significant Deficiency
  • 578160 2021-001
    Significant Deficiency
  • 578161 2021-002
    Significant Deficiency

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
59.075 Shuttered Venue Operators Grant Program $4.01M