Finding 389723 (2023-005)

Material Weakness
Requirement
B
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2023
Accepted
2024-03-29

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The College made payments for the Migrant Education Program without proper prior approval, violating internal controls.
  • Impacted Requirements: Payments did not conform to 2 CFR Part 200 guidelines, risking compliance and financial integrity.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Implement policies to ensure all payments receive prior approval as per the College’s grants policy manual.

Finding Text

Information of Federal Program: Migrant Education (Title I) Program – CFDA No. 84.011(A) Criteria: 2 CFR Part 200 requires the College to have the following internal controls in place in order to determine allowability under federal awards; 1) Be necessary and reasonable for the performance of the federal award and be allocable thereto under the principles in 2 CFR Part 200, Subpart E. 2) Conform to any limitations or exclusions set forth in 2 CFR Part 200, Subpart E or in the federal award as to types or amount of cost items. 3) Be consistent with policies and procedures that apply uniformly to both federally financed and other activities of the non-federal entity. 4) Be accorded consistent treatment. A cost may not be assigned to a federal award as a direct cost if any other cost incurred for the same purpose in like circumstances has been allocated to the federal award as an indirect cost. 5) Be determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), except for state and local government and Indian tribes only as otherwise provided for in 2 CFR Part 200. 6) Not be included as a cost or used to meet cost-sharing or matching requirements of any other federally financed program in either the correct or a prior period. 7) Be adequately documented. Condition: During our testing of expenses of the College, we selected forty (40) expenses charged to Migrant Education (Title I) Program. During this testing, it was noted the College issued payments without proper prior approval being kept on file and without regard to College policy. Fifteen (15) of forty (40) expenses selected for testing were missing prior approval. Cause: The College did not have proper procedures in place regarding obtaining prior approval and authorization for disbursements. Effect or Potential Effect: The breakdown of internal controls in the area could adversely affect the recording, processing and reporting of financial data, as well as creating an opportunity for fraud to occur. Questioned Costs: None Context: Disbursements were made by the College without proper internally required approval and authorization. Repeat Finding: No Recommendation: Policies and procedures should be implemented prohibiting issuance of payments without prior approval and authorization. All payments should be issued in compliance with the College’s grants policy manual. Views of responsible officials and planned corrective action: Management is in agreement and will implement a Corrective Action Plan, see pages 72-75 of the current year audit.

Corrective Action Plan

Views of responsible officials and planned corrective action: Areas of focus will be to update the grant policy manual and provide training to all staff of the College to be sure that the policies contained within are adhered to. Our objectives will be that all current and incoming staff will be provided training on adhering to the policies within and proper approvals. Documentation of approvals can be achieved through our current accounting system and purchasing system. Staff has been briefed and is already working through that process of approvals by putting information through the accounting system. Measurable targets will be achieved by having a requisition and purchase order issued prior to purchase to provide a documentation trail of proper approvals and thus payment. This provides a documentation trail of approvals.

Categories

Matching / Level of Effort / Earmarking Allowable Costs / Cost Principles Reporting

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 389705 2023-002
    Material Weakness
  • 389706 2023-003
    Material Weakness
  • 389707 2023-004
    Material Weakness
  • 389708 2023-002
    Material Weakness
  • 389709 2023-003
    Material Weakness
  • 389710 2023-004
    Material Weakness
  • 389711 2023-002
    Material Weakness
  • 389712 2023-003
    Material Weakness
  • 389713 2023-004
    Material Weakness
  • 389714 2023-002
    Material Weakness
  • 389715 2023-003
    Material Weakness
  • 389716 2023-004
    Material Weakness
  • 389717 2023-002
    Material Weakness
  • 389718 2023-003
    Material Weakness
  • 389719 2023-004
    Material Weakness
  • 389720 2023-002
    Material Weakness
  • 389721 2023-003
    Material Weakness
  • 389722 2023-004
    Material Weakness
  • 966147 2023-002
    Material Weakness
  • 966148 2023-003
    Material Weakness
  • 966149 2023-004
    Material Weakness
  • 966150 2023-002
    Material Weakness
  • 966151 2023-003
    Material Weakness
  • 966152 2023-004
    Material Weakness
  • 966153 2023-002
    Material Weakness
  • 966154 2023-003
    Material Weakness
  • 966155 2023-004
    Material Weakness
  • 966156 2023-002
    Material Weakness
  • 966157 2023-003
    Material Weakness
  • 966158 2023-004
    Material Weakness
  • 966159 2023-002
    Material Weakness
  • 966160 2023-003
    Material Weakness
  • 966161 2023-004
    Material Weakness
  • 966162 2023-002
    Material Weakness
  • 966163 2023-003
    Material Weakness
  • 966164 2023-004
    Material Weakness
  • 966165 2023-005
    Material Weakness

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
84.011 Migrant Education_state Grant Program $1.36M
84.268 Federal Direct Student Loans $1.16M
84.149 Migrant Education_college Assistance Migrant Program $463,434
84.141 Migrant Education_high School Equivalency Program $448,948
21.027 Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds $400,052
84.042 Trio_student Support Services $267,910
84.007 Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants $41,465
84.425 Education Stabilization Fund $20,000
84.048 Career and Technical Education -- Basic Grants to States $8,000
84.033 Federal Work-Study Program $3,116
84.063 Federal Pell Grant Program $2,195