Finding Text
FINDING 2022-005 Information on the federal program: Subject: COVID-19 ? Education Stabilization Fund ? Cash Management, Other Matters Federal Agency: Department of Education Federal Program: Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER II) Fund Assistance Listing Number: 84.425D Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirement: Cash Management Audit Finding: Material Weakness, Noncompliance, Other Matters Criteria: 2 CFR section 200.303 states in part: ?The non-Federal entity must: ? Establish and maintain effective internal control over Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal awards 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)?.? Condition: An effective internal control system was not in place at the School Corporation in order to ensure compliance with requirements related to the grant agreement and the cash management compliance requirements for the COVID-19 ? Education Stabilization Fund. Cause: The School Corporation?s management had not developed a system of internal controls to ensure compliance with the compliance requirements listed above. Effect: The failure to establish an effective internal control system enabled noncompliance with the grant agreement and the compliance requirements. A lack of an internal control system allowed noncompliance with the compliance requirements and could allow the misuse and mismanagement of federal funds and assets by not having proper oversight, reviews, and approvals over the activities of the programs. Questioned Costs: There no questioned costs identified. Context: During our audit procedures, we noted that in fiscal year 2021, the School Corporation had drawn down $108,445 more in ESSER II funds than what they had expended. The School Corporation received $297,500 of ESSER II funds during fiscal year 2021, but had only disbursed $189,055. The School Corporation spent $107,361 of the remaining funds during fiscal year 2022 and had an ending balance of $1,084 as of June 30, 2022. The ESSER II grant is a cost reimbursement grant and therefore, the School Corporation should not have drawn down these funds prior to the expenses being incurred. Identification as a repeat finding, if applicable: No. Recommendation: We recommend that the School Corporation establish an internal control that would ensure funds from cost reimbursement grants are not requested prior to the expenses being incurred. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: Management agrees with the finding and has prepared a corrective action plan.