Auditor General DeFoor Releases Audits for Volunteer Firefighters’ Relief Associations in 19 Counties
Auditor General DeFoor Releases Audits for Volunteer Firefighters’ Relief Associations in 19 Counties
HARRISBURG – Auditor General Timothy DeFoor today announced audit reports have been released for 25 volunteer firefighters’ relief associations (VFRAs) in Allegheny, Beaver, Berks, Bucks, Clinton, Delaware, Erie, Huntingdon, Indiana, Lehigh, Luzerne, Mercer, Northampton, Potter, Schuylkill, Sullivan, Warren, Washington and York counties.
“Relief associations provide vital support to Pennsylvania’s dedicated first responders,” DeFoor said. “Our audits make sure state aid is used to equip and protect volunteer firefighters.”
The Department of the Auditor General distributes state aid for VFRAs and audits how they use the funds, which are generated by a 2% tax on fire insurance policies sold in Pennsylvania by out-of-state companies. In 2021, $54 million went to 2,517 municipalities for distribution to VFRAs to provide training, purchase equipment and insurance, and pay for death benefits for volunteer firefighters.
VFRAs may have future state aid withheld if they do not comply with applicable state laws, contracts, bylaws and administrative procedures. Relief associations are separate legal entities from the fire departments they support.
The department is required by law to audit volunteer fire relief associations and municipal pension plans that receive state aid through the department; liquid fuels tax usage by municipalities; various county offices and numerous other state government entities.
Audit reports are available online using the links provided below, or at www.PaAuditor.gov/audit-reports.
Allegheny County
Aleppo Township Volunteer Fireman’s Relief Association – No findings.
Beaver County
Beaver Volunteer Firemen’s Relief Association – No findings.
Berks County
Lyons Fire Company Relief Tax Association – No findings.
Bucks County
Doylestown Firefighters’ Relief Association 1 finding: inadequate administration of discretionary benefits
Clinton County
The Haneyville Volunteer Fire Company Relief Association – No findings.
Delaware County
East Lansdowne Volunteer Firefighters’ Relief Association – 3 findings: Noncompliance with prior audit recommendation: untimely receipt and deposit of state aid, failure to maintain minutes of meetings, inadequate internal controls
Relief Association of Upland Fire Company #1 – No findings.
Erie County
The Union City Fireman’s Relief Association – No findings.
Huntingdon County
The Three Springs Volunteer Firemen’s Relief Association – 2 findings: Untimely receipts and deposits of state aid, inadequate minutes of meetings and inadequate relief association bylaws
Indiana County
Clymer Volunteer Firefighters’ Relief Association – 2 findings: Untimely receipts and deposits of state aid, failure to maintain a Pennsylvania sales tax exemption number
Lehigh County
Coopersburg Volunteer Fireman’s Relief Association– 1 finding: Failure to deposit proceeds of equipment sold
North Whitehall Township Volunteer Firemen’s Relief Association – Observation: FDIC coverage limits exceeded
Luzerne County
Wyoming Firemen’s Relief Association of the Borough of Wyoming – 3 findings: insufficient surety (fidelity) bond coverage, failure to maintain a complete and accurate equipment roster, inadequate financial record-keeping system
Mercer County
Sharpsville Volunteer Fire Department Relief Association – No findings.
Northampton County
Bethlehem Township Volunteer Fire Company Relief Association – 3 findings: Failure to monitor financial accounts, inappropriate ownership of rescue vehicle, inadequate surety (fidelity) bond coverage. 1 observation: FDIC coverage limits exceeded
Firemen’s Relief Association of the Washington Township Volunteer Fire Company – No findings.
Hecktown Volunteer Fire Company #1 Fireman’s Relief Association – Observation: FDIC coverage limits exceeded
Potter County
Germania Fireman’s Relief Association – No findings.
Schuylkill County
West Penn Fire Co. No. 1, Inc. Firemans Relief Association – No findings.
Sullivan County
The Endless Winds Volunteer Fire Co. Inc. Firemen’s Relief Association – 3 findings: Noncompliance with prior audit recommendation: failure to adhere to relief association bylaws, failure to maintain a complete and accurate equipment roster, failure to maintain a complete and accurate membership roster
Warren County
Spring Creek Township Volunteer Firemen’s Relief Association – No findings.
Washington County
Valley Inn Volunteer Firemen’s Relief Association – No findings.
York County
Firemen’s Relief Association of Manchester – No findings.
North Codorus Township Firemen’s Relief Association of the North Codorus Township Fire Company, No. 1 – No findings.
Goodwill Firefighters Relief Association of Jacobus – 1 finding: Inadequate signatory authority for the disbursement of funds
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