Finding 9033 (2023-002)

Material Weakness
Requirement
B
Questioned Costs
$1
Year
2023
Accepted
2024-01-18

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: Payments for debt service were recorded but not actually disbursed, violating federal cost principles.
  • Impacted Requirements: Expenditures must be incurred before recording, as per 2 CFR Part 200.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Strengthen internal controls to ensure compliance with federal expenditure requirements.

Finding Text

U.S. Department of Education Education Stabilization Fund – AL # 84.425 Criteria – Management is responsible for ensuring federal expenditures meet the Allowable Cost/Cost Principles as defined by 2 CFR Part 200, where goods and services must be received prior to payments being issued. Condition – Payments for expenditures associated with debt service obligations were expensed to the program but not disbursed to the debt holder. Cause – Internal controls in place did not ensure expenditures recorded met the federal compliance requirements for Allowable Costs/Cost Principles as defined in 2 CFR Part 200. Effect or potential effect – Prior to adjustment, federal expenditures and the corresponding federal revenue were overstated at year end by material amounts. This could require the District to pay back monies received under the federal program. Questioned costs –$2,782,258 Recommendations – We recommend the District enhance internal controls to ensure that eligible expenditures have been incurred prior to recording the expense. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions – Management agrees with this finding. Management will properly apply internal controls to the process of recording expenditures to ensure the expenditures meet the federal Allowable Costs/Cost Principles as defined in 2 CFR Part 200.

Corrective Action Plan

Condition: Payments for expenditures associated with debt service obligations were expensed to the program but not disbursed to the debt holder. Cause: Internal controls in place did not ensure expenditures recorded met the federal compliance requirements for Allowable Costs/Cost Principles as defined in 2 CFR Part 200. Auditor Recommendation: We recommend the District enhance internal controls to ensure that eligible expenditures have been incurred prior to recording the expense. Plan of Action: The District has hired a Finance Director who has committed to increased financial monitoring to ensure federal compliance principles are met. In addition, the district has hired a new Operations Manager and District Accountant. The new team is committed to enhancing and adhering to internal controls to ensure proper monitoring of policies and procedures. In the event that there are questions about compliance for grants in general, the District will continue to rely on timely guidance from external governmental accounting consultants, the Oregon Department of Revenue, and the Oregon Department of Education. Date of implementation: Immediately and ongoing. If there are any questions regarding this plan, please contact Sam Stegemiller by email at sstegemill@grantspass.k12.or.us or by phone at 541-474-5703.

Categories

Questioned Costs Allowable Costs / Cost Principles

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 585475 2023-002
    Material Weakness

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
84.010 Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies $1.68M
10.553 School Breakfast Program $643,209
10.555 National School Lunch Program $299,072
84.367 Improving Teacher Quality State Grants $189,471
10.582 Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program $129,159
10.665 Schools and Roads - Grants to States $108,139
84.424 Student Support and Academic Enrichment Program $95,182
84.196 Education for Homeless Children and Youth $32,500
84.365 English Language Acquisition State Grants $10,788
10.558 Child and Adult Care Food Program $7,859
84.425 Education Stabilization Fund $7,500
84.173 Special Education_preschool Grants $6,407
84.027 Special Education_grants to States $4,400
10.559 Summer Food Service Program for Children $1,116