Auditor General DePasquale Releases Audits for Volunteer Firefighter Relief Associations in Cambria, Centre, Huntingdon, Lancaster, Lycoming, Montgomery, Potter, Venango and Westmoreland counties
Auditor General DePasquale Releases Audits for Volunteer Firefighter Relief Associations in Cambria, Centre, Huntingdon, Lancaster, Lycoming, Montgomery, Potter, Venango and Westmoreland counties
HARRISBURG (Jan. 24, 2014)– Auditor General Eugene DePasquale today announced the release of audit reports for nine volunteer firefighter relief associations in Cambria, Centre, Huntingdon, Lancaster, Lycoming, Montgomery, Potter, Venango and Westmoreland 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.
Cambria County
Conemaugh Independence VFRA
Received and expended state aid and accumulated relief funds in compliance with applicable state laws, contracts, bylaws and administrative procedures.
Centre County
Pine Glen 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 for insufficient bond coverage.
Huntingdon County
Stone Creek Valley 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 for insufficient bond coverage.
Lancaster County
Hand-In-Hand 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 regarding meeting minutes and bond coverage.
Lycoming County
Montgomery 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: noncompliance with prior audit recommendation on undocumented expenses, unsecured loan and unauthorized expenditure.
Montgomery County
Royersford VFRA
Received and expended state aid and accumulated relief funds in compliance with applicable state laws, contracts, bylaws and administrative procedures, except for four findings: inadequate bylaws; insufficient bond coverage; failure to maintain accurate membership rosters; and failure to secure ownership interest in jointly purchased equipment.
Potter County
Roulette VFRA
Received and expended state aid and accumulated relief funds in compliance with applicable state laws, contracts, bylaws and administrative procedures.
Venango County
Utica 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 fire relief bylaws; and failure to conduct annual equipment inventories.
Westmoreland County
Manor 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 regarding failure to maintain complete and accurate equipment rosters.
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