Auditor General DePasquale Releases Audits for Volunteer Firefighters' Relief Associations in 12 Counties
Auditor General DePasquale Releases Audits for Volunteer Firefighters' Relief Associations in 12 Counties
HARRISBURG (April 8, 2020) – Auditor General Eugene DePasquale today announced the release of audit reports for volunteer firefighters' relief associations (VFRAs) in Allegheny, Chester, Crawford, Erie, Jefferson, Lackawanna, Lancaster, Lebanon, Montgomery, Northumberland, Venango and York counties.
“My oversight of relief associations helps to make sure volunteer firefighters have the resources they need to protect our citizens and communities,” DePasquale said. “State aid must be used efficiently and effectively to help purchase life-saving equipment, training and insurance for thousands of first-responders.”
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
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: failure to maintain bond coverage.
The VFRA allowed its bond coverage to expire in November of 2019.
South Fayette Township VFRA – No findings.
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: inappropriate ownership of rescue vehicle.
A rescue vehicle was inappropriately titled to the affiliated fire company.
Chester 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: undocumented expenditure.
The VFRA could not produce documentation to support a $600 expense to Berks County.
West Bradford VFRA – No findings.
Crawford County
Vernon Central Hose Company VFRA – No findings.
Erie 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: unauthorized expenditure and failure to segregate relief association officer’s duties.
The VFRA spent $9,600 to repair the affiliated fire company’s exhaust extraction system, which is not an allowable expense. In addition, the VFRA had one individual serving as both president and secretary of the organization.
Jefferson County
Pine Creek Township VFRA – No findings.
Lackawanna County
Meredith Hose Co. No. 1 VFRA – No findings.
Lancaster County
Bart Township VFRA – No findings.
Lebanon 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: unauthorized expenditure.
The VFRA spent $400 on training for a non-member.
Montgomery County
Huntingdon Valley Fire Co. No. 1 VFRA – No findings.
Northumberland 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 findings: unauthorized expenditure.
The VFRA had $987 in unauthorized expenditures, including $928 for medical supplies.
Venango County
Oakland Township VFRA – No findings.
York County
Alert Fire Company No. 1 VFRA – No findings.
Fairview Township VFRA – No findings.
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