Finding 8028 (2023-001)

Significant Deficiency
Requirement
F
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2023
Accepted
2024-01-09

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The District failed to comply with the equipment and real property management requirement by not obtaining prior approval for capital purchases from the Texas Department of Education.
  • Impacted Requirements: Non-compliance with federal regulations and grant agreements related to capital purchases under the COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: The District should enhance its internal controls to ensure compliance and prevent future noncompliance with grant requirements.

Finding Text

Significant Deficiency in Internal Control Over Compliance and Noncompliance Assistance Listing: 84.425D – COVID-19 – Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund Federal Agency Name: United States Department of Education Criteria: As a condition of receiving Federal awards, non-Federal entities agree to comply with laws, regulations and the provisions of grant agreements and contracts, and to maintain internal control to provide reasonable assurance of compliance with these requirements. The U.S. Department of Education established the “equipment and real property management” compliance requirement applicable to the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund which stipulates that all capital purchases by subrecipients must receive prior approval from the Texas Department of Education. Condition: During the fiscal year ended August 31, 2023, the District did not have effective internal controls over compliance with the equipment and real property management requirement described above. The District requested and received reimbursement for capital purchases that had not received prior approval from the Texas Department of Education. Cause: The District did not have adequately designed controls in place to ensure compliance with the equipment and real property management requirement. Effect or Potential Effect: The District’s capital purchases could have been denied by the Texas Department of Education. Questioned Costs: None. Identification as a repeat finding, if applicable: Not a repeat finding. Recommendation: We recommend that the District review its internal controls over compliance to ensure controls are suitably designed and are in place to prevent, or detect and correct, noncompliance with applicable compliance requirements. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Action Plan: See corrective action plan. Pass-Through Entity: Texas Department of Education Award Number: S425D210042 Compliance Requirement: Equipment and Real Property Management

Corrective Action Plan

Corrective Action Plan The District will implement procedures to ensure planned capital expenditures, using Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Funds, receive approval by either the U.S. Department of Education or the Texas Education Agency prior to the actual purchase. Person(s) Responsible Assistant Superintendent of Business & Finance Anticipated Completion Date Fiscal year 2023-2024

Categories

Subrecipient Monitoring Equipment & Real Property Management Procurement, Suspension & Debarment Matching / Level of Effort / Earmarking Cash Management Significant Deficiency

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 584470 2023-001
    Significant Deficiency

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
84.425 Education Stabilization Fund $1.95M
10.553 School Breakfast Program $264,181
84.371 Striving Readers $100,645
10.555 National School Lunch Program $100,445
84.367 Improving Teacher Quality State Grants $91,851
84.027 Special Education_grants to States $69,509
84.358 Rural Education $61,681
10.665 Schools and Roads - Grants to States $50,831
84.010 Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies $47,097
84.424 Student Support and Academic Enrichment Program $39,926
84.048 Career and Technical Education -- Basic Grants to States $32,099
84.173 Special Education_preschool Grants $3,792
10.649 Pandemic Ebt Administrative Costs $3,135