Finding 504302 (2024-002)

Significant Deficiency
Requirement
A
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2024
Accepted
2024-10-31

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: Expenditures exceeded the amounts authorized in the grant budget for Title I.
  • Impacted Requirements: Noncompliance with 2 CFR 200.402 regarding allowable costs.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Review grant agreements and implement controls to ensure only allowable costs are charged.

Finding Text

Finding 2024-002 – ACTIVITIES ALLOWED OR UNALLOWED and ALLOWABLE COSTS/COST PRINCIPLES Type: Significant Deficiency in Internal Control / Noncompliance Program: Title I (ALN 84.010) Condition: Expenditures charged to the grant were over amounts authorized in the grant budget. Criteria: As detailed by 2 CFR 200.402, “the total cost of a Federal award is the sum of the allowable direct and allocable indirect costs less any applicable credits”. Cause: Grant budget was not amended for increases in planned expenditures. Effect: Unallowed costs were charged to the grant based on / compared to MDE approved budgets. Consequently, reimbursements (funding sources) may be overstated. Context: Amounts expended for this grant by function code and/or object code were over the amounts allowed in the MDE approved budget. Recommendation: We recommend that the District review all grant agreements to gain a thorough understanding of allowable costs and then establish internal controls to assure that only allowable costs are charged to the grant. Management’s Resp: Management is in agreement with this recommendation.

Corrective Action Plan

October 22, 2024 Finding Number 2024-002 — Activities Allowed or Unallowed and Allowable Costs/Cost Principles Type — Significant Deficiency in Internal Control/Noncompliance Program — Title I (ALN 84.010) Condition: Expenditures charged to the grant were over amounts authorized in the grant budget. Responsible Person: Carl Seiter, Director of Business Services Implementation Date: July 1 2024 Corrective Action: The district will utilize a shared google document that details each federal grant and state categorical budget detail and planned expenditures. This plan includes a process of meeting with Federal Program Director each month to review federal grants and categoricals. The budgets are reviewed to ensure that the document keeps pace with any staff changes, benefit plans or planned expenditures. With a current, up to date document, the budget amendment process will be accurate and aligned with the consolidated application. Sincerely, Carl Seiter Director of Business Services Shepherd Public Schools

Categories

Allowable Costs / Cost Principles

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1080744 2024-002
    Significant Deficiency

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
93.243 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Projects of Regional and National Significance $436,844
84.010 Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies $257,619
10.553 School Breakfast Program $179,747
84.367 Supporting Effective Instruction State Grants (formerly Improving Teacher Quality State Grants) $79,889
10.555 National School Lunch Program $63,186
84.424 Student Support and Academic Enrichment Program $28,533
93.778 Medical Assistance Program $14,127
84.425 Education Stabilization Fund $12,746
84.365 English Language Acquisition State Grants $103