Finding 575780 (2024-001)

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Requirement
AB
Questioned Costs
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Year
2024
Accepted
2025-09-08

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The Town failed to provide required semi-annual time and effort certifications for employees working on the Education Stabilization Fund.
  • Impacted Requirements: Compliance with Uniform Guidance mandates that certifications be completed at least semi-annually, not annually.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Implement procedures to ensure timely completion and signing of semi-annual certifications by employees or supervisors with direct knowledge of the work.

Finding Text

Finding 2024-001 – Education Stabilization Fund – AL No. 84.425U Department of Education Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Other Matters Related to Internal Control over Compliance of the Major Program Criteria: Where employees work solely or partially on a single Federal program or cost objective, their salaries or wages must be supported by periodic certification that the employee worked on this program for the period covered by the program. The certifications should be prepared at least semi-annually, and should be signed by the employee or supervisory official having first-hand knowledge of the work performed by the employee. Condition: During our test of controls over compliance with time and effort certifications the Town was not able to provide evidence that the required certifications of time and effort for those employees whose time was spent either completely or partially spent on this program was performed as required by Uniform Guidance. Questioned Costs: Unknown Context: During our test of payroll transactions of the major program (Education Stabilization Fund) it was noted that 2 of the employees charged to this major program had time and effort certifications that were only completed annually as opposed to being prepared at least semi-annually. Effect: The Town was not in compliance with the time and effort certification requirements. Cause: In Fiscal Year 2024, the employee in charge of grant management was under the assumption that annual time and effort certifications were sufficient. Individuals involved with the grants were informed in Fiscal Year 2025 that semi-annual time and effort certifications were required. Identification as a Repeat Finding: N/A Recommendation: We recommend the Town of Foxborough follow procedures to ensure that semi-annual certifications and/or monthly certifications are prepared and signed by either the employees and/or supervisory official having first-hand knowledge of the work performed by the employees in a timely manner in order to comply with the time and effort certification requirements. Management Response: For Fiscal Year 2025, individuals involved with grant management were informed of the requirement for semi-annual time and effort certifications. Employee handling grant management is responsible for making sure all time and effort certifications are completed.

Corrective Action Plan

July 28, 2025 The Town of Foxborough, Massachusetts respectfully submits the following corrective action plan for the year ended June 30, 2024. Name and address of independent public accounting firm: Robert E. Brown II, CPA 25 Cemetery Street P.O. Box 230 Mendon, Massachusetts 01756 Audit period: The finding from the June 30, 2024 schedule of findings and questioned costs is discussed below. The finding is numbered consistently with the number assigned in the schedule of expenditures of federal awards. Finding 2024-001 – Education Stabilization Fund – AL No. 84.425U Department of Education Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Other Matters Related to Internal Control over Compliance of the Major Program Criteria: Where employees work solely or partially on a single Federal program or cost objective, their salaries or wages must be supported by periodic certification that the employee worked on this program for the period covered by the program. The certifications should be prepared at least semi-annually, and should be signed by the employee or supervisory official having first-hand knowledge of the work performed by the employee. Condition: During our test of controls over compliance with time and effort certifications the Town was not able to provide evidence that the required certifications of time and effort for those employees whose time was spent either completely or partially spent on this program was performed as required by Uniform Guidance. Questioned Costs: Unknown Context: During our test of payroll transactions of the major program (Education Stabilization Fund) it was noted that 2 of the employees charged to this major program had time and effort certifications that were only completed annually as opposed to being prepared at least semi-annually. Effect: The Town was not in compliance with the time and effort certification requirements. Cause: In Fiscal Year 2024, the employee in charge of grant management was under the assumption that annual time and effort certifications were sufficient. Individuals involved with the grants were informed in Fiscal Year 2025 that semi-annual time and effort certifications were required. Identification as a Repeat Finding: N/A Recommendation: We recommend the Town of Foxborough follow procedures to ensure that semi-annual certifications and/or monthly certifications are prepared and signed by either the employees and/or supervisory official having first-hand knowledge of the work performed by the employees in a timely manner in order to comply with the time and effort certification requirement. Responsible for Corrective Plan: Karin Sheridan, School Business Administrator Estimated Completion Date: This process of semi-annually began with Fiscal Year 2025. Action Taken: Individuals involved with grant management began the process of semi-annual certifications in Fiscal Year 2025.

Categories

Internal Control / Segregation of Duties

Other Findings in this Audit

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
10.553 School Breakfast Program $131,964
21.027 Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds $55,000
10.555 National School Lunch Program $52,322
84.367 Supporting Effective Instruction State Grants (formerly Improving Teacher Quality State Grants) $29,859
84.027 Special Education Grants to States $11,745
84.424 Student Support and Academic Enrichment Program $10,000
84.425 Education Stabilization Fund $9,475
20.600 State and Community Highway Safety $8,971
84.010 Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies $3,949
84.365 English Language Acquisition State Grants $1,313
84.173 Special Education Preschool Grants $1,090