Auditor General DeFoor Releases Audits for Volunteer Firefighters’ Relief Associations in 20 Counties
Auditor General DeFoor Releases Audits for Volunteer Firefighters’ Relief Associations in 20 Counties
HARRISBURG – Auditor General Timothy DeFoor today announced audit reports have been released for 36 volunteer firefighters’ relief associations (VFRAs) in Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Bedford, Cambria, Clearfield, Clinton, Columbia, Erie, Forest, Jefferson, Lawrence, Luzerne, Lycoming, Mifflin, Montgomery, Schuylkill, Snyder, 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 2022, $66.7 million went to 2,514 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.
Review the latest audit report for the listed VFRAs and learn more about the Department of the Auditor General online at www.PaAuditor.gov. Our updated VFRA guidelines are posted on our website at Pennsylvania Department of the Auditor General -VRFA Resources (paauditor.gov).
Allegheny County
Fawn Township Volunteer Fire Company #2 Relief Association – No findings.
Frazer Township Volunteer Fire Department No. 2 Relief Association – 2 findings: Failure to maintain surety (fidelity) bond coverage, failure to obtain a Pennsylvania sales tax exemption number
Sharpsburg Fireman’s Relief Association – No findings.
The Lincoln Borough Volunteer Fire and Rescue Company No. 1 Relief Association – No findings.
Vigilant Hose Company #1 of Port Vue, PA Relief Fund – No findings.
Armstrong County
Apollo Hose Company #3 Volunteer Firemen’s Relief Association, Inc. of Apollo, Pennsylvania – 1 finding: Insufficient surety (fidelity) bond coverage
Ford Cliff Volunteer Firefighters’ Relief Association – 1 finding: Failure to obtain a Pennsylvania sales tax exemption number
Leechburg Volunteer Fire Company Relief Association – No findings.
North Apollo Volunteer Firemen’s Relief Association – 1 finding: Failure to obtain a Pennsylvania sales tax exemption number
Beaver County
Conway Volunteer Firemen’s Relief Association – No findings.
Bedford County
Cumberland Valley Township Volunteer Firemen’s Relief Association – No findings.
The Alum Bank Community Firefighter’s Relief Association – No findings.
Cambria County
Portage Volunteer Fire Company No. 1, Relief Association of Portage, Pennsylvania – 2 findings: Failure to maintain surety (fidelity) bond coverage, payment of Pennsylvania sales tax
Clearfield County
Grampian-Penn-Bloom Volunteer Firemen’s Relief Association of Grampian/ Clearfield County – No findings
Clinton County
Firemen’s Relief Association of Castanea Township – No findings.
Columbia County
Orangeville Firemen’s Relief Association – No findings.
Erie County
Wesleyville Fireman’s Relief Association – No findings.
Forest County
West Hickory Volunteer Fireman’s Relief Association – No findings.
Jefferson County
McCalmont Township Firemen’s Relief Association of the Township of McCalmont in Anita, Pennsylvania – 1 finding: Insufficient surety (fidelity) bond coverage
Pine Creek Township Volunteer Firemen’s Relief Association – 1 finding: Failure to maintain surety (fidelity) bond coverage
Reynoldsville Volunteer Fireman Relief Association, Inc. – 1 finding: Inadequate signatory authority for the disbursement of funds
Lawrence County
Volunteer Firemen’s Relief Association of Neshannock Township – 1 finding: Unauthorized expenditures
Luzerne County
Greater Pittston Ambulance & Rescue Relief Association – No findings.
Swoyersville Volunteer Fire Department #2 Relief Association of Swoyersville, PA – 3 findings: Noncompliance with prior audit recommendation: Failure to maintain a complete and accurate equipment roster, unauthorized expenditure, failure to obtain a Pennsylvania sales tax exemption number
Lycoming County
DuBoistown Firefighters’ Relief Association – No findings.
The Relief Association of the Citizens Hose Company of Jersey Shore, Pennsylvania – No findings
Mifflin County
McVeytown Volunteer Firemen’s Relief Association – No findings.
Montgomery County
Fireman’s Union and Relief Association of Bridgeport, Pennsylvania – 2 findings: Unsecured loan, insufficient fidelity (surety) bond coverage
Red Hill Fire Company Firefighters’ Relief Association – No findings.
The Firemen’s Relief Association of Narbeth, Pennsylvania – No findings.
Schuylkill County
Clover Fire Company Fireman’s Relief Association – 6 findings: Noncompliance with prior audit recommendation: Insufficient surety (fidelity) bond coverage, undocumented expenditures, failure to maintain a complete and accurate equipment roster, failure to maintain minutes of meetings, inadequate financial record-keeping system, inadequate relief association bylaws
Minersville Firemens Relief Association – No findings.
Snyder County
Beavertown Firemen’s Relief Association – No findings.
Kratzerville Firemen’s Relief Association – No findings.
Washington County
Donora Firemen’s Relief Association – No findings.
York County
Porters Community Fire Company Relief Association – No findings.
# # #
Return to search results