Finding Text
Significant Deficiency 2022-001. Payroll (Allowable Costs/Cost Principles) United States Department of Education, Passed-through New York State Department of Education: Education Stabilization Funds (ESF) COVID-19: Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Fund Assistance Listing No. 84.425D COVID-19: American Rescue Plan ? Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER) Assistance Listing No. 84.425U Criteria: Salaries and wages charged to Federal awards must be supported by documentation prescribed by the Uniform Guidance at Subpart I, 2 CFR ?200.430. Condition: Subpart I, 2 CFR ?200.430 of the Uniform Guidance requires that charges to ?Federal awards for salaries and wages must be based on records that accurately reflect the work performed.? The documentation should support the distribution of the employee?s compensation among specific activities if the employee works on more than one federal award, or a Federal award and non-Federal award. The preparation of personnel activity reports (PARs) or periodic certifications or the equivalent is the most effective way to comply with this requirement. During the current year, the District?s PARs for two employees, did not accurately reflect what was charged to the grants in order to comply with Subpart I, 2 CFR ?200.430. Cause: The District budgeted costs for certain federal grants based on the required FS-10 form it submits to the State. The District then utilized the PARs to track and document the actual time and effort to support payroll costs charged to each grant. It was noted that the actual expenses charged for two employees was not supported by the PARs maintained by the District. As described in Subpart I, 2 CFR ?200.430, the District is required to document and maintain the support for salaries charged to Federal awards. Effect: Noncompliance could result in the incorrect amount for services rendered being charged to the Federal award. Questioned Costs: None Recommendation: The District should monitor and update the appropriate documentation to support the salaries and wages charged to Federal awards in accordance with the requirements of the Uniform Guidance at Subpart I, 2 CFR ?200.430. In the event that modifications for costs charged to grants are necessary, the District should contact the New York State Department of Education (NYSED) and file the appropriate amendment, if necessary. In addition, the District should update the PARs documentation to support amounts charged to the grant. Views of Responsible Officials of Auditee: Since the grant funding periods for each of these grants are still open, the District has contacted NYSED and has been advised to submit an amended budget for these additional costs charged, as they are allowable. In addition, the District will review its internal procedure documentation for payroll costs charged to the grants to ensure that the actual costs submitted for reimbursement are supported by the PARs for each employee.