Finding 571922 (2021-006)

-
Requirement
ABH
Questioned Costs
$1
Year
2021
Accepted
2025-07-24
Audit: 362988
Organization: Choctaw County (OK)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: $59,595 in expenditures for the Coronavirus Relief Fund were not compliant with federal requirements due to unsubstantiated and ineligible costs.
  • Impacted Requirements: Noncompliance with federal grant guidelines, including double reimbursement and lack of adequate documentation for allowable costs.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Implement robust policies and procedures to ensure compliance with grant requirements and prevent future issues.

Finding Text

Finding 2021-006 – Noncompliance Over Major Federal Program – Activities Allowed or Unallowed and Allowable Costs/Cost Principles-Coronavirus Relief Fund PASS THROUGH GRANTOR: Oklahoma Office of Management and Enterprise Services FEDERAL AGENCY: U.S. Department of Treasury ASSISTANCE LISTING: 21.019 FEDERAL PROGRAM NAME: Coronavirus Relief Fund FEDERAL AWARD NUMBER: SA-0161 FEDERAL AWARD YEAR: 2021 CONTROL CATEGORY: Activities Allowed or Unallowed and Allowable Costs/Cost Principles QUESTIONED COSTS: $59,595 Condition: After performing expenditure testwork on 100% of the program, disbursements totaling $59,595 were not expended in accordance with the Activities Allowed or Unallowed and Allowable Costs/Cost Principles compliance requirements due to unsubstantiated and ineligible costs. We noted the following: • Reimbursed payroll expenditures totaling $51,552 were previously reimbursed by another entity. • Reimbursed payroll expenditures totaling $7,075 were previously reimbursed by another federal grant. • One employee’s salary totaling $569 was submitted and paid twice on two reimbursement requests. • Expenditures totaling $399 were unaccounted for and were not supported by adequate documentation to determine costs were incurred for allowable cost/cost principles. Cause of Condition: Policies and procedures have not been designed and implemented to ensure compliance with federal award requirements. Effect of Condition: These conditions resulted in noncompliance with grant requirements. The County runs the risk of misappropriation of funds which could hinder the County from receiving future federal funding. Further, this condition could result in the repayment of funds. Recommendation: OSAI recommends the County design and implement policies and procedures to ensure compliance with applicable grant requirements. Management Response: Chairman of the Board of County Commissioners: We will implement policies and procedures to ensure compliance with applicable grant requirements. County Clerk: We will watch closer ensure compliance with applicable grant requirements. County Treasurer: I will do my part to assist in the design and implementation of policies and procedures to ensure compliance with applicable grant requirements. Criteria: 2 CFR § 200.303(a) Internal Controls reads as follows: The non-Federal entity must: Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in “Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government” issued by the Comptroller General of the United States or the “Internal Control Integrated Framework”, issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Additionally, 2 CFR § 200.403 - Factors affecting allowability costs states in part, “Except where otherwise authorized by statute, costs must meet the following general criteria in order to be allowable under Federal awards: (g) Be adequately documented.” The Department of the Treasury Federal Register, Vol. 86, No. 10 states in part, “Fund payments may not be used for expenses that have been or will be reimbursed by another federal program.” Additionally, guidance provided in the Subrecipient Agreement - Federal Funding Certification executed 6/04/2020 between Choctaw County and the State of Oklahoma states in part, 5. Funds provided as a direct payment from the State of Oklahoma pursuant to this certification must adhere to official federal guidance issued or to be issued on what constitutes a necessary expenditure. Any funds expended by a political subdivision or its grantee(s) in any manner that does not adhere to official federal guidance or in violation of this certification shall be returned to the State of Oklahoma Coronavirus Relief Fund. 6. Any local government entity receiving funds pursuant to this certification shall retain documentation of all uses of the funds… 10. I acknowledge and certify that Recipient has not received, and will not apply for, federal funds from any other source, to reimburse it for the expenditures for which funds are sought pursuant hereto.

Corrective Action Plan

We will implement policies and procedures to ensure compliance with applicable grant requirements.

Categories

Questioned Costs Allowable Costs / Cost Principles Subrecipient Monitoring Cash Management Eligibility Matching / Level of Effort / Earmarking

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 571920 2021-004
    Significant Deficiency
  • 571921 2021-005
    Material Weakness
  • 1148362 2021-004
    Significant Deficiency
  • 1148363 2021-005
    Material Weakness
  • 1148364 2021-006
    -

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
21.019 Coronavirus Relief Fund $604,540
15.226 Payments in Lieu of Taxes $96,679
97.073 State Homeland Security Program (shsp) $19,480
97.042 Emergency Management Performance Grants $15,000
16.738 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program $9,228