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


February 24 2017
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Auditor General DePasquale Releases Audits for Volunteer Firefighters’ Relief Associations in Nine Counties

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HARRISBURG (Feb. 24, 2017) – Auditor General Eugene DePasquale today announced the release of audit reports for volunteer firefighters’ relief associations in Allegheny, Blair, Lackawanna, Lancaster, Lycoming, Montgomery, Northumberland, Schuylkill and Snyder 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 2016, $65.5 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

Dravosburg 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: undocumented expenditure. 

Blair County

Frankstown Township 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: failure to maintain a complete and accurate equipment roster, and non-compliance with prior audit recommendation for failure to maintain a complete and accurate membership roster.

Lackawanna County

Throop VFRA – No findings  

Lancaster County

Columbia 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: undocumented expenditures, inadequate relief association bylaws, and failure to maintain a complete and accurate equipment roster. 

East Cocalico Township 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: insufficient bond coverage and non-compliance with prior audit recommendations for failure to maintain a complete and accurate membership roster, and failure to maintain a complete and accurate equipment roster. 

Lycoming County

Old Lycoming Township 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: untimely deposit of state aid, unauthorized expenditure, and failure to maintain a complete and accurate equipment roster. 

Montgomery County

Pennsburg 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: failure to maintain minutes of meetings, and failure to maintain a complete and accurate membership roster.

Northumberland County

Warrior Run Area VFRA – No findings 

Schuylkill County

Seltzer VFRA – No findings 

Snyder County

Shamokin Dam VFRA – No findings  

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