Auditor General DePasquale Releases Audits for Volunteer Firefighters’ Relief Associations in 23 Counties


August 25 2016
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Auditor General DePasquale Releases Audits for Volunteer Firefighters’ Relief Associations in 23 Counties

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HARRISBURG (Aug. 25, 2016) – Auditor General Eugene DePasquale today announced the release of audit reports for volunteer firefighters’ relief associations in Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Berks, Bucks, Butler, Cambria, Carbon, Chester, Cumberland, Fayette, Fulton, Greene, Huntingdon, Juniata, Luzerne, McKean, Mercer, Northampton, Sullivan, Warren, Washington 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 2015, $65.94 million in state funds was required to be distributed through funding municipalities to 1,915 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.

Allegheny County

Blawnox-Glenover VFRA – No findings  

Hilltop Hose Co. No. 3 VFRA – No findings 

Pioneer Hose Co. No. 1 VFRA – No findings 

Armstrong County

Apollo Hose Co. No. 3 VFRA – No findings 

Rural Valley VFRA – No findings  

Washington Township VFRA – No findings  

Beaver County

Chippewa Township VFRA – No findings  

Berks County

Spring 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 secure ownership interest in jointly purchased vehicles. 

Bucks County

Ottsville 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: untimely deposit of state aid and non-compliance with prior audit recommendation for unauthorized expenditures. 

Springtown 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: untimely deposit of state aid.

Butler County

Harrisville 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: insufficient bond coverage and non-compliance with prior audit recommendation for failure to conduct annual physical equipment inventory. 

Cambria County

Conemaugh Independence VFRA – No findings

Carbon County

East Mauch Chunk VFRA 

Received and expended state aid and accumulated relief funds in compliance with applicable state laws, contracts, bylaws and administrative procedures, except for three findings: inadequate minutes of meetings and non-compliance with prior audit recommendations for undocumented expenditures and failure to maintain a complete and accurate equipment roster.

Parryville VFRA – No findings  

Chester County

Kimberton VFRA – No findings  

Po Mar Lin 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 failure to maintain a complete and accurate equipment roster. 

Cumberland County

 Vigilant Hose Co. No. 1 VFRA – No findings 

Fayette County

Farmington 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: insufficient bond coverage.

South Union 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 disclose related party transactions. 

Fulton County

McConnellsburg 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: inadequate relief association bylaws and non-compliance with prior audit recommendation for unauthorized expenditure.

Greene County

Mount Morris VFRA – No findings 

Huntingdon County

Orbisonia-Rockhill VFRA – No findings 

Juniata County

Lack-Tuscarora EMS – No findings 

Luzerne County

Fearnots VFRA – No findings 

Kunkle VFRA – No findings 

Jenkins Township 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: unauthorized expenditure. 

McKean County

Corydon Township VFRA – No findings  

Hilltop 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: unauthorized expenditure.

Mercer County

Jamestown VFRA – No findings 

Northampton County

Pen Argyl VFRA – No findings 

Sullivan County

Dushore VFRA – No findings  

Silver Lake VFRA – No findings  

Warren County

Clarendon 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 untimely deposit of state aid. 

Washington County

Finleyville VFRA – No findings

Westmoreland County

Dryridge VFRA – No findings 

East Huntingdon Township VFRA – No findings 

Mount Pleasant Township VFRA – No findings 

Mount Pleasant Township Fire Department No. 3 VFRA – No findings 

Trauger 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. 

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