Auditor General DePasquale Releases Audits for Volunteer Firefighters’ Relief Associations in 14 Counties
Auditor General DePasquale Releases Audits for Volunteer Firefighters’ Relief Associations in 14 Counties
HARRISBURG (Oct. 15, 2019) – Auditor General Eugene DePasquale today announced the release of audit reports for volunteer firefighters’ relief associations (VFRAs) in Allegheny, Bucks, Carbon, Centre, Erie, Fayette, Lawrence, Luzerne, Lycoming, Mercer, Monroe, Northampton, Westmoreland and York counties.
“My oversight of volunteer firefighters’ relief associations helps emergency-services volunteers protect our citizens and communities,” DePasquale said. “I want to make sure the funding is used efficiently and effectively to help purchase life-saving equipment, training and insurance for thousands of first-responders.”
VFRAs receive state aid from a 2 percent state tax on fire insurance premiums purchased by Pennsylvania residents from out-of-state casualty insurance companies. This year, 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
Renton VFRA – No findings.
Bucks 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 a complete and accurate equipment roster.
Carbon County
Penn Forest 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: noncompliance with prior audit recommendations for failure to maintain a complete and accurate equipment roster and inappropriate ownership of rescue vehicles.
Centre County
Howard 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 one finding: untimely deposit of state aid.
The relief association did not deposit $7,680 in state aid allocated by Union Township in 2018 within the required 60 days of receipt.
Fayette County
Footedale VFRA – No findings.
Normalville Area VFRA – No findings.
Lawrence County
Slippery Rock Township VFRA – No findings.
Luzerne 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: insufficient bond coverage. The VFRA has $40,064 in assets but only $30,000 in bond coverage.
Lycoming 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: the relief association’s checking account was inappropriately registered under the affiliated fire company’s federal tax identification number.
Montgomery VFRA – No findings.
Mercer 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: inadequate financial record keeping. The VFRA did not keep a journal of receipts and disbursements.
Monroe 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: undocumented expenditures and noncompliance with prior audit finding for failure to maintain a complete and accurate equipment roster.
As a result of the audit, the affiliated fire company reimbursed the VFRA for $434 in undocumented expenses for training and equipment.
Northampton 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 conduct annual physical equipment inventories.
Westmoreland County
Level Green VFRA – No findings.
Midway-St. Clair VFRA – No findings.
York County
New Bridgeville Memorial VFRA – No findings.
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