Finding 390134 (2023-001)

Significant Deficiency
Requirement
B
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2023
Accepted
2024-03-29

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: Time and effort records for employees were not accurately maintained, leading to noncompliance with federal requirements.
  • Impacted Requirements: The lack of proper documentation violates the Office of Management and Budget Uniform Guidance on allowable costs and cost principles.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Implement internal controls and provide training to ensure accurate time and effort documentation for all employees.

Finding Text

Finding Number: 2023‐001 Repeat Finding: No Program Name/Assistance Listing Title: COVID‐19 Education Stabilization Fund Assistance Listing Number: 84.425U, 84.425W Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Education Federal Award Number: S425U210038, S425W210003 Pass‐Through Agency: Arizona Department of Education Questioned Costs: N/A Type of Finding: Noncompliance, Significant Deficiency Compliance Requirement: Allowable Costs/Cost Principles Criteria According  to  the  Office  of  Management  and  Budget  Uniform  Guidance  requirements  2  CFR  §200.230(i) charges to federal awards for salaries and wages must be based on records that accurately reflect the work performed. Specifically, according to 2 CFR §200.430(i)(vii) the records must support the distribution of the employee’s salary or wages among specific activities or cost objectives if the employee works on more than one Federal award; a Federal award and non‐Federal award; an indirect cost activity and a direct cost activity; two or more indirect activities which are allocated using different allocation bases; or an unallowable activity and a direct or indirect cost activity. Condition Time and effort records were not accurately maintained for employees. Cause District management did not have adequate internal controls in place to ensure the time and effort documentation completed by the employee accurately reflected the work performed. Effect The District was not in compliance with the requirements set forth by the federal government. Context For one employee reviewed, time and effort documentation was not maintained for an employee that worked on a federal program and non‐federal program. For seven employees reviewed who work  on  more  than  one  federal  program,  the  employees'  time  and  effort  documentation  only  included one federal program. The sample was not intended to be, and was not, a statistically valid sample. Recommendation The  District  should  design  and  implement  internal  controls  to  ensure  proper  training  on  the  preparation of time and effort documentation is distributed to all employees and that all time and effort documentation accurately reflects the work performed. Views of Responsible Officials See Corrective Action Plan.

Categories

Allowable Costs / Cost Principles

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 390133 2023-001
    Significant Deficiency
  • 966575 2023-001
    Significant Deficiency
  • 966576 2023-001
    Significant Deficiency

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
84.010 Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies $7.21M
10.559 Summer Food Service Program for Children $5.07M
84.027 Special Education_grants to States $3.53M
10.553 School Breakfast Program $2.60M
84.287 Twenty-First Century Community Learning Centers $1.12M
84.367 Supporting Effective Instruction State Grants $721,426
93.243 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services_projects of Regional and National Significance $631,478
10.555 Covid-19 National School Lunch Program $597,418
84.048 Career and Technical Education -- Basic Grants to States $581,650
84.365 English Language Acquisition State Grants $360,581
84.027 Covid-19 Special Education_grants to States $321,146
93.778 Medical Assistance Program $208,748
10.582 Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program $156,149
84.173 Special Education_preschool Grants $142,139
84.196 Education for Homeless Children and Youth $104,432
84.060 Indian Education_grants to Local Educational Agencies $100,109
10.555 National School Lunch Program $99,853
15.130 Indian Education_assistance to Schools $59,946
84.425 Covid-19 Education Stabilization Fund $58,464
84.173 Covid-19 Special Education_preschool Grants $20,517
10.649 Covid-19 Pandemic Ebt Administrative Costs $5,814
84.334 Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs $3,009