Finding Text
2024-002 (2023-002) – INACCURATE SCHEDULE OF EXPENDITURES OF FEDERAL AWARDS
Type of Finding: (E) Material Weakness in Internal Control Over Compliance of Federal Awards
Funding Agency: All (see Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards)
Title: All (see Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards)
AL #: All (see Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards)
Award #: All (see Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards)
Award Period: All (see Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards)
Questioned Costs: None
Statement of Condition
The Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA) was provided timely to the auditors; however, several adjustments were identified during the audit process:
• Adjustments were required to properly record accruals and present expenditures on the modified accrual basis, resulting in a reduction of expenditures by $140,941.
• The SEFA incorrectly included state-funded expenditures, requiring an adjustment that reduced reported federal expenditures by $50,766.
• A disbursement related to the Local Assistance & Tribal Consistency Fund grant was initially posted incorrectly (reversed) in the general ledger. Correcting this error resulted in an increase in reported federal expenditures by $1,000,509.
Without accurate recording of federal award expenditures, auditors cannot appropriately assess and select federal programs for testing as mandated by the Single Audit Act. Moreover, insufficient internal controls increase the risk of noncompliance and potential disallowed federal expenditures.
Management’s Progress Toward Prior Year Corrective Action Plan: The County has made progress toward addressing the prior year’s SEFA accuracy finding; however, additional corrections remain necessary, as noted above.
Criteria
2 CFR § 200.303 requires non-Federal entities receiving Federal awards to establish and maintain internal controls designed to reasonably ensure compliance with federal laws, regulations, and program requirements. Good internal control practices require the entity to have documented procedures for:
• Properly identifying federal, state, and other funding sources.
• Classifying expenditures accurately under the correct federal assistance listing numbers.
• Ensuring expenditures reported on the SEFA are accurate and presented according to requirements.
Additionally, 2 CFR 200.510(b) mandates the preparation of an accurate and complete SEFA for the audit period, including federal expenditures as determined in accordance with 2 CFR 200.502.
Cause
The County lacks comprehensive controls to ensure that all federal expenditures are correctly tracked, accurately classified, and properly reported on the SEFA.
Effect
Without accurate, timely tracking and reporting of federal expenditures, the County is at risk of improperly accounting for federal awards, potentially leading to noncompliance, questioned costs, or repayment obligations.
Recommendation
We recommend that the County establish, document, and implement a comprehensive internal control structure specifically designed to:
• Clearly identify, track, and report grant expenditures.
• Accurately distinguish between federal and non-federal expenditures.
• Prepare and review the SEFA regularly to ensure completeness, accuracy, and compliance with modified accrual accounting requirements.