FAC Explorer

Finding 504071 (2022-013)

Material Weakness
Requirement
A
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2022
Accepted
2024-10-29
Audit: 326473
Organization: Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas (KS)
Auditor: Forvis Mazars

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The Unified Government misused SAFER grant funds by charging overtime pay, violating their own policy against it.
  • Impacted Requirements: Internal controls under 2 CFR 200.303 were ineffective, leading to non-compliance with federal award terms.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Review and strengthen controls around the SAFER grant to ensure compliance and proper fund usage.

Finding Text

U.S. Department of Homeland Security Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) - 97.083, Award number EMW-2019-FF-0819 Criteria or Specific Requirement – Material Weakness Per 2 CFR 200.303, the non-Federal entities receiving federal awards (i.e., auditee management) establish and maintain internal control design to reasonably ensure compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. Condition: It is the Unified Government's policy that no funding received through the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant is to be utilized for overtime pay even when it is allowed under the grant. During testing of allowable costs, we identified instances in which funding was used for overtime pay. Question Costs: None noted Context: We selected a sample of 40 charges to the SAFER grant of which, all were salaries and benefits expenditures. Within our sample, we noted 10 of the selections were overtime and were charged and allocated to the grant. These were determined to be allowable under the grant as it was for overtime that the fire department routinely pays as a part of the firefighter’s regularly scheduled and contracted shift hours to comply with the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). This sample was not intended to be, and was not, a statistically valid sample. Identification of Prior Year Finding: N/A Effect: The Unified Government's control surrounding overtime pay was not operating effectively and overtime was applied against the grant despite their internal policies and controls. Cause: The Unified Government's controls to not charge overtime did not operate effectively. Recommendation: We recommend that the Unified Government review it's control structure surrounding the SAFER award document and ensure they are designed around compliance requirements and that they are operating effectively. Views of Responsible Official and Planned Corrective Actions: Management will work with stakeholders so that only the allowed costs are used as the basis of the reimbursement packet. We have also created fencing around allowed costs and period of performance in our new ERP system.

Corrective Action Plan

Finding 2022-013 U.S Department of Homeland Security Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) – 97.083, Award Number EMW-2019-FF-0819 Management’s Response: Management agrees spend controls are an important part of grant compliance. Management continues to improve compliance and controls over awards to ensure compliance. In 2023 we converted to a new ERP system and part of the conversion was implementing spend controls to aid in compliance for awards to minimize future issues. Views of Responsible Officials and Corrective Action: Management will work with stakeholders so that only the allowed costs are used as the basis of the reimbursement packet. We have also created fencing around allowed costs and period of performance in our new ERP system. Management will ensure this is addressed by December 31, 2024. Responsible Official: Dr. Shelley Kneuvean Chief Financial Officer Unified Government of Wyandotte County & Kansas City KS

Categories

Allowable Costs / Cost Principles Cash Management Material Weakness Period of Performance Matching / Level of Effort / Earmarking Internal Control / Segregation of Duties

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 504061 2022-007
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 504062 2022-007
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 504063 2022-007
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 504064 2022-008
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 504065 2022-008
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 504066 2022-008
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 504067 2022-009
    Significant Deficiency
  • 504068 2022-010
    Significant Deficiency
  • 504069 2022-011
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 504070 2022-012
    Significant Deficiency
  • 504072 2022-014
    Significant Deficiency
  • 504073 2022-015
    Material Weakness
  • 504074 2022-016
    Material Weakness
  • 504075 2022-017
    Material Weakness
  • 504076 2022-017
    Material Weakness
  • 504077 2022-018
    Significant Deficiency
  • 504078 2022-018
    Significant Deficiency
  • 504079 2022-019
    Material Weakness
  • 504080 2022-019
    Material Weakness
  • 1080503 2022-007
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 1080504 2022-007
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 1080505 2022-007
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 1080506 2022-008
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1080507 2022-008
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1080508 2022-008
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1080509 2022-009
    Significant Deficiency
  • 1080510 2022-010
    Significant Deficiency
  • 1080511 2022-011
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 1080512 2022-012
    Significant Deficiency
  • 1080513 2022-013
    Material Weakness
  • 1080514 2022-014
    Significant Deficiency
  • 1080515 2022-015
    Material Weakness
  • 1080516 2022-016
    Material Weakness
  • 1080517 2022-017
    Material Weakness
  • 1080518 2022-017
    Material Weakness
  • 1080519 2022-018
    Significant Deficiency
  • 1080520 2022-018
    Significant Deficiency
  • 1080521 2022-019
    Material Weakness
  • 1080522 2022-019
    Material Weakness

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
21.027 Covid-19 Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds $9.91M
14.218 Community Development Block Grants/entitlement Grants $2.01M
97.083 Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (safer) $1.83M
14.231 Covid-19 Emergency Solutions Grant Program $908,883
14.218 Covid-19 Community Development Block Grants/entitlement Grants $878,625
14.239 Home Investment Partnerships Program $749,810
93.667 Social Services Block Grant $596,437
93.323 Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity for Infectious Diseases (elc) $502,390
20.600 State and Community Highway Safety $460,147
93.044 Special Programs for the Aging_title Iii, Part B_grants for Supportive Services and Senior Centers $410,089
16.710 Public Safety Partnership and Community Policing Grants $354,783
93.870 Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting Grant $304,090
16.738 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program $280,440
10.557 Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children $263,480
93.053 Nutrition Services Incentive Program $251,323
93.268 Covid-19 Immunization Cooperative Agreements $245,697
14.900 Lead-Based Paint Hazard Control in Privately-Owned Housing $239,876
66.001 Air Pollution Control Program Support $226,310
93.116 Project Grants and Cooperative Agreements for Tuberculosis Control Programs $194,740
14.231 Emergency Solutions Grant Program $166,876
93.778 Medical Assistance Program $161,006
93.217 Family Planning_services $147,764
93.052 National Family Caregiver Support, Title Iii, Part E $129,555
93.069 Public Health Emergency Preparedness $103,036
16.034 Covid-19 Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding Program $99,556
66.808 Solid Waste Management Assistance Grants $95,000
97.042 Emergency Management Performance Grants $90,660
16.588 Violence Against Women Formula Grants $84,822
93.575 Child Care and Development Block Grant $80,219
16.575 Crime Victim Assistance $75,759
93.045 Special Programs for the Aging_title Iii, Part C_nutrition Services $64,776
16.817 Byrne Criminal Justice Innovation Program $51,726
93.898 Cancer Prevention and Control Programs for State, Territorial and Tribal Organizations $51,023
95.001 High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas Program $49,391
93.630 Developmental Disabilities Basic Support and Advocacy Grants $48,045
11.307 Economic Adjustment Assistance $42,779
20.507 Covid-19 Federal Transit_formula Grants $40,991
66.034 Surveys, Studies, Research, Investigations, Demonstrations, and Special Purpose Activities Relating to the Clean Air Act $38,417
16.746 Capital Case Litigation Initiative $28,172
16.590 Grants to Encourage Arrest Policies and Enforcement of Protection Orders Program $27,512
21.016 Equitable Sharing $18,700
93.268 Immunization Cooperative Agreements $9,414
93.994 Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant to the States $6,164
93.043 Special Programs for the Aging_title Iii, Part D_disease Prevention and Health Promotion Services $3,635