Auditor General DePasquale Releases Audits for Volunteer Firefighters’ Relief Associations in 10 Counties
Auditor General DePasquale Releases Audits for Volunteer Firefighters’ Relief Associations in 10 Counties
HARRISBURG (June 17, 2020) – Auditor General Eugene DePasquale today announced the release of audit reports for volunteer firefighters’ relief associations (VFRAs) in Allegheny, Clarion, Clinton, Columbia, Jefferson, Lackawanna, Lancaster, Luzerne, Monroe and Tioga counties.
“Relief associations help to provide essential life-saving equipment, critical training and insurance for thousands of volunteer firefighters and emergency service providers,” DePasquale said. “Please remember local emergency responders when making donations to support your community, recognizing that the pandemic forced many fundraisers to be canceled.”
State aid for VFRAs comes from a 2 percent tax on fire insurance policies sold in Pennsylvania by out-of-state companies. In 2019, 2,518 municipalities received nearly $60 million for distribution to VFRAs to provide training, purchase equipment and insurance, and pay for death benefits for volunteer firefighters.
The Department of the Auditor General distributes the state aid and audits VFRAs. 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
Frazer Township Fire Co. No. 1 VFRA – No findings.
Rankin VFRA – No findings.
Clarion County
Complied with applicable state laws, contracts, bylaws and administrative procedures as they relate to the receipt of state aid and the expenditure of relief association funds, except for four findings: undocumented expenditures, inadequate minutes of meetings, failure to maintain a complete and accurate equipment roster and noncompliance for prior audit recommendation for unauthorized expenditures.
The VFRA spent $12,783 on maintenance of a fire company-owned vehicle, which is not an authorized expense.
Clinton County
Complied with applicable state laws, contracts, bylaws and administrative procedures as they relate to the receipt of state aid and the expenditure of relief association funds, except for one finding: untimely deposit of state aid.
Columbia County
Catawissa VFRA – No findings.
Jefferson County
Complied with applicable state laws, contracts, bylaws and administrative procedures as they relate to the receipt of state aid and the expenditure of relief association funds, except for one finding: noncompliance with prior audit recommendation for inadequate relief association bylaws.
Lackawanna County
Greenwood Hose Co. No. 1 VFRA – No findings.
Lancaster County
Adamstown VFRA – No findings.
Luzerne County
Sugarloaf VFRA – No findings.
Monroe County
Mount Pocono VFRA – No findings.
Shawnee VFRA – No findings.
Tioga County
Complied with applicable state laws, contracts, bylaws and administrative procedures as they relate to the receipt of state aid and the expenditure of relief association funds, except for two findings: failure to adhere to and properly update relief association bylaws, and noncompliance with prior audit recommendations for undocumented expenditures.
The VFRA could not provide supporting documentation for a $520 payment to the Elkland Volunteer Fire Department made in 2014.
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