Auditor General DePasquale Releases Audits for Volunteer Firefighters’ Relief Associations in 13 Counties
Auditor General DePasquale Releases Audits for Volunteer Firefighters’ Relief Associations in 13 Counties
HARRISBURG (Dec. 1, 2017) – Auditor General Eugene DePasquale today announced the release of audit reports for volunteer firefighters’ relief associations in Adams, Allegheny, Beaver, Bucks, Franklin, Lancaster, Lawrence, Lebanon, Lehigh, Luzerne, Northampton, Pike and Westmoreland counties.
The Department of the Auditor General examines volunteer firefighters’ relief associations, which receive state aid from a 2 percent state tax on fire insurance premiums purchased by Pennsylvania residents from out-of-state casualty insurance companies.
In 2017, $60.6 million in state funds was required to be distributed through funding municipalities to 2,521 VFRAs to provide training, purchase equipment and insurance, and pay for death benefits for volunteer firefighters.
The full audit reports for VFRAs with findings are available online using the links provided below, others are available online at: www.PaAuditor.gov/audit-reports.
Adams County
Biglerville Hose and Truck Co. No. 1 VFRA
Received and expended state aid and accumulated relief funds in compliance with applicable state laws, contracts, bylaws and administrative procedures, except for one finding: failure to maintain a complete and accurate equipment roster.
Allegheny County
Braddock Fire Department No. 2 VFRA – No findings
Received and expended state aid and accumulated relief funds in compliance with applicable state laws, contracts, bylaws and administrative procedures, except for two findings: inadequate signatory authority for disbursement of funds and noncompliance with prior audit recommendation for unauthorized expenditure.
Beaver County
Patterson Heights VFRA – No finding
Bucks County
Bristol Township Fire Co. No. 1 VFRA
Received and expended state aid and accumulated relief funds in compliance with applicable state laws, contracts, bylaws and administrative procedures, except for two findings: unauthorized expenditure and noncompliance with prior audit recommendation for insufficient bond coverage.
Received and expended state aid and accumulated relief funds in compliance with applicable state laws, contracts, bylaws and administrative procedures, except for one finding: failure to define discretionary benefits.
Franklin County
St. Thomas Township VFRA – No findings
Lancaster County
Received and expended state aid and accumulated relief funds in compliance with applicable state laws, contracts, bylaws and administrative procedures, except for six findings: failure to secure ownership interest in jointly purchased equipment, undocumented expenditures, inadequate internal controls, inadequate relief association bylaws, failure to maintain a complete and accurate equipment roster, and noncompliance with prior audit recommendation for failure to maintain minutes of meetings.
Lawrence County
Union Township VFRA – No findings
Lebanon County
Received and expended state aid and accumulated relief funds in compliance with applicable state laws, contracts, bylaws and administrative procedures, except for one finding: failure to disclose related party transactions.
Mount Zion VFRA – No findings
Received and expended state aid and accumulated relief funds in compliance with applicable state laws, contracts, bylaws and administrative procedures, except for one finding: noncompliance with prior audit recommendation for failure to maintain a complete and accurate membership roster.
Lehigh County
South Whitehall Township VFRA – No findings
Luzerne County
Received and expended state aid and accumulated relief funds in compliance with applicable state laws, contracts, bylaws and administrative procedures, except for one finding: insufficient bond coverage.
Northampton County
Received and expended state aid and accumulated relief funds in compliance with applicable state laws, contracts, bylaws and administrative procedures, except for one finding: inadequate signatory authority for disbursement of funds.
Pike County
Delaware Township VFRA – No findings
Westmoreland County
Derry VFRA – No findings
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