Finding 371309 (2021-011)

Material Weakness
Requirement
AB
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2021
Accepted
2024-02-29
Audit: 292985
Organization: City of Bethel, Alaska (AK)
Auditor: Bdo USA PC

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: Three out of 62 sampled disbursements lacked adequate documentation, violating federal requirements for allowable costs.
  • Impacted Requirements: Noncompliance with 2 CFR 200.403(g), which mandates sufficient documentation for costs charged to federal programs.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Management should enhance policies to ensure all expenditure documentation is properly retained and reviewed.

Finding Text

Finding 2021-011 Expenditure Documentation - Activities Allowed and Unallowed, Allowable Costs/Cost Principles – Noncompliance and Material Weakness in Internal Control Over Compliance Agency Department of the Treasury ALN 21.019 Program COVID-19 - Coronavirus Relief Fund Award Year FY 2021 Pass-Through Agency State of Alaska Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development Pass-Through Entity Identifying Number 20-CRF-024 Criteria 2 CFR 200.403(g) states that for costs to be allowable under federal awards, they must be adequately documented and there must be sufficient documentation. Condition During our testing of nonpayroll disbursements, we noted the following exception: Three of the 62 disbursements sampled did not have adequate supporting documentation. Cause Policies and procedures were not appropriately adhered to in certain instances to ensure that supporting documentation was maintained correctly to evidence that costs were allowable and that an appropriate level of review and approval was completed prior to charging costs to a federal program. Effect or potential effect We were unable to confirm the allowability and existence of three disbursements charged to the program. Questioned costs None over the questioned costs reporting threshold. Context We tested a sample of 62 nonpayroll transactions totaling to $947,814 from a population of 470 transactions totaling to $2,768,962. We noted three exceptions as noted in the condition. This is a condition identified per review of the City’s compliance with the specified requirements not using a statistically valid sample. The known amount of the three exceptions is $1,608. Identification as a repeat finding Not a repeat finding. Recommendation Management should review policy and ensure documentation supporting each expenditure will be retained. Views of responsible officials Management concurs with the finding. Management will implement policies and procedures to ensure supporting documentation over expenditures are retained.

Corrective Action Plan

Finding 2021‐011 Expenditure Documentation – Activities Allowed and Unallowed, Allowable Costs/Cost Principles – Noncompliance and Material Weakness in Internal Control over Compliance Corrective Action Plan Management will implement policies and procedures to ensure supporting documentation over expenditures are retained. Expected Completion Date Fiscal Year 2025.

Categories

Allowable Costs / Cost Principles

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 371302 2021-005
    Material Weakness
  • 371303 2021-005
    Material Weakness
  • 371304 2021-006
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 371305 2021-007
    Significant Deficiency
  • 371306 2021-008
    Material Weakness
  • 371307 2021-009
    Material Weakness
  • 371308 2021-010
    Material Weakness
  • 371310 2021-012
    Material Weakness
  • 371311 2021-013
    Material Weakness
  • 947744 2021-005
    Material Weakness
  • 947745 2021-005
    Material Weakness
  • 947746 2021-006
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 947747 2021-007
    Significant Deficiency
  • 947748 2021-008
    Material Weakness
  • 947749 2021-009
    Material Weakness
  • 947750 2021-010
    Material Weakness
  • 947751 2021-011
    Material Weakness
  • 947752 2021-012
    Material Weakness
  • 947753 2021-013
    Material Weakness

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
21.019 Coronavirus Relief Fund $7.57M
66.202 Congressionally Mandated Projects $1.10M
66.458 Capitalization Grants for Clean Water State Revolving Funds $89,940
97.067 Homeland Security Grant Program $21,930