Auditor General DePasquale Releases Audits for Volunteer Firefighters’ Relief Associations in 13 Counties
Auditor General DePasquale Releases Audits for Volunteer Firefighters’ Relief Associations in 13 Counties
HARRISBURG (May 21, 2019) – Auditor General Eugene DePasquale today announced the release of audit reports for volunteer firefighters’ relief associations in Allegheny, Beaver, Bucks, Columbia, Cumberland, Erie, Lancaster, Lehigh, Luzerne, Mifflin, Perry, Schuylkill and Snyder counties.
“Volunteer firefighter relief associations help our communities receive essential life-saving equipment, critical training and insurance for thousands of volunteer firefighters and emergency service providers,” DePasquale said.
The Department of the Auditor General audits volunteer firefighters’ relief associations, which receive state aid from a 2 percent state tax on fire insurance premiums purchased by Pennsylvania residents from out-of-state casualty insurance companies.
In 2018, 2,518 municipalities received $55.1 million in state aid for distribution to local volunteer firefighters’ relief associations to provide training, purchase equipment and insurance, and pay for death benefits for volunteer firefighters.
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
Aspinwall VFRA – No findings
Chalfant VFRA – No findings
Churchill VFRA – No findings
Duquesne VFRA – No findings
Fawn Township Fire Co. No. 2 VFRA – No findings
Homestead VFRA – No findings
Kennedy Township Independent VFRA – No findings
Beaver 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 comply with the terms of loan agreement and failure to maintain bond coverage.
The VFRA loaned the East Rochester Volunteer Fire Department $10,000 in May 2016, but the fire company has only made one payment of $800 toward the loan.
The VFRA’s bond coverage expired Sept. 11, 2018. The VFRA had $8,772 in cash assets as of Dec. 31, 2018.
Bucks County
Bristol VFRA – No findings
Cumberland County
Hampden Township Fire Co. No. 1 VFRA
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: undocumented expenditure and noncompliance with prior audit recommendation for failure to maintain a complete and accurate equipment roster.
The VFRA was unable to provide adequate documentation for a $2,599 expense to a financial institution.
Columbia 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 failure to maintain a complete and accurate membership roster.
Erie County
Kuhl Hose Company VFRA – No findings
Lancaster 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 three findings: undocumented expenditures, inappropriate ownership of vehicle and noncompliance with prior audit recommendation for unauthorized expenditures.
The VFRA could not provide adequate documentation for $2,850 in training vendor expenses. The VFRA purchased a 2008 Ford for $8,818 but inappropriately issued the title in the name of the affiliated fire company.
Lehigh County
Fountain Hill VFRA – No findings
Luzerne County
Bear Creek Township VFRA – No findings
Dorrance Township VFRA – No findings
Freeland VFRA – No findings
Mifflin County
Belleville Fire Co. No. 1 VFRA – No findings
Perry 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: untimely receipt and deposit of state aid and insufficient bond coverage.
The VFRA had only $150,000 in bond coverage for $241,503 in assets.
Schuylkill 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: untimely deposit of state aid and noncompliance with prior audit recommendation for insufficient bond coverage.
Snyder 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 deposit proceeds from the sale of a jointly purchased vehicle.
When a jointly owned 2005 International Harvester Rescue Vehicle was sold for $59,000, the VFRA did not receive its proportional share of $20,921.
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