Auditor General DePasquale Releases Audits for 16 Volunteer Firefighter Relief Associations in 11 Counties

March 20 2014

Auditor General DePasquale Releases Audits for 16 Volunteer Firefighter Relief Associations in 11 Counties

HARRISBURG (March 20, 2014) – Auditor General Eugene DePasquale today announced the release of audit reports for 16 volunteer firefighter relief associations in Allegheny, Armstrong, Bucks, Luzerne, Lycoming, McKean, Mercer, Monroe, Pike, Washington and York counties.

The department’s Bureau of Firefighters’ Relief Association Audits examines volunteer firefighter relief associations, which receive state aid from a two-percent state tax on fire insurance premiums purchased by Pennsylvania residents from out-of-state casualty insurance companies.

In 2013, $72 million in state funds was required to be distributed through funding municipalities to nearly 1,950 VFRAs to provide training, purchase equipment and insurance, and pay for death benefits for volunteer firefighters. 

The full audit reports are available online using the links provided below.

Allegheny County
West Elizabeth VFRA
Received and expended state aid and accumulated relief funds in compliance with applicable state laws, contracts, bylaws and administrative procedures.

Armstrong County
Worthington West Franklin VFRA
Received and expended state aid and accumulated relief funds in compliance with applicable state laws, contracts, bylaws and administrative procedures.

Bucks County
Penndel 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.

Luzerne County
Larksville VFRA 
Received and expended state aid and accumulated relief funds in compliance with applicable state laws, bylaws and administrative procedures.

Lycoming County
Muncy 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: unauthorized expenditures, failure to adhere to relief association bylaws and insufficient bond coverage.

McKean County
Hilltop VFRA
Received and expended state aid and accumulated relief funds in compliance with applicable state laws, contracts, bylaws and administrative procedures.

Mercer County
Jamestown VFRA
Received and expended state aid and accumulated relief funds in compliance with applicable state laws, bylaws and administrative procedures.

Transfer VFRA
Received and expended state aid and accumulated relief funds in compliance with applicable state laws, bylaws and administrative procedures, except for three findings: failure to maintain a complete and accurate membership roster, failure to maintain a complete and accurate equipment roster and non-compliance with a prior audit recommendation for insufficient bond coverage.

Monroe County
Jackson Township VFRA
Received and expended state aid and accumulated relief funds in compliance with applicable state laws, bylaws and administrative procedures.

Tobyhanna Township VFRA
Received and expended state aid and accumulated relief funds in compliance with applicable state laws, bylaws and administrative procedures.

Pike County
Milford VFRA
Received and expended state aid and accumulated relief funds in compliance with applicable state laws, bylaws and administrative procedures.

Washington County
Jefferson Township VFRA
Received and expended state aid and accumulated relief funds in compliance with applicable state laws, contracts, bylaws and administrative procedures.

New Eagle VFRA
Received and expended state aid and accumulated relief funds in compliance with applicable state laws, contracts, bylaws and administrative procedures.

Stockdale 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 receipt and deposit of state aid.

West Alexander VFRA
Received and expended state aid and accumulated relief funds in compliance with applicable state laws, contracts, bylaws and administrative procedures.

York County
Strinestown VFRA
Received and expended state aid and accumulated relief funds in compliance with applicable state laws, bylaws and administrative procedures.

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