Auditor General DePasquale Releases Audits for Volunteer Firefighters’ Relief Associations in 17 Counties
Auditor General DePasquale Releases Audits for Volunteer Firefighters’ Relief Associations in 17 Counties
HARRISBURG (July 16, 2019) – Auditor General Eugene DePasquale today announced the release of audit reports for volunteer firefighters’ relief associations (VFRAs) in Adams, Allegheny, Berks, Bradford, Bucks, Cambria, Clarion, Delaware, Dauphin, Lackawanna, Lehigh, Luzerne, Lycoming, Mifflin, Montgomery, Washington, Westmoreland counties.
“Volunteer firefighters’ relief associations help to provide life-saving equipment, critical training and insurance for thousands of volunteer firefighters and emergency service providers,” DePasquale said.
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. In 2018, 2,518 municipalities received $55.1 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.
Adams County
Buchanan Valley VFRA – No findings
Allegheny County
Avalon VFRA – No findings
Moon Run VFRA – No findings
Pleasant Valley of O’Hara Township VFRA – No findings
Berks County
Western Berks VFRA – No findings
Bradford 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.
Bucks County
Trevose VFRA – No findings
Cambria County
Summerhill Borough VFRA – No findings
Clarion County
Hawthorn Area VFRA – No findings
Dauphin County
River Rescue and Emergency Service 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 four findings: association may not comply with requirements of Act 118; unauthorized expenditures; failure to maintain a complete and accurate equipment roster; and failure to maintain a complete and accurate membership roster.
The River Rescue and Emergency Service is not affiliated with a volunteer fire company. As a result of the audit, the service reimbursed the VFRA $19,974 for a drone and related expenses. The VFRA also spent $4,092 on insurance premiums for a non-related entity and $1,980 for a grant writing course, which are not permitted expenses.
Delaware County
Millbourne VFRA – No findings
Lackawanna County
Fell Township VFRA – No findings
Lehigh County
Slatington 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 two findings: undocumented loan and inadequate signatory authority for disbursement of funds.
The VFRA loaned the affiliated fire company $10,900 in 2018 without a formal written agreement. The fire company repaid the loan but the payment did not include $127 in interest.
Lycoming County
Citizens Hose Company VFRA – No findings
Mifflin 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.
The VFRA is required to have signatures of at least two relief association officers, one of whom must be the disbursing officer.
Montgomery County
Harleysville VFRA – No findings
Washington County
Canton Township VFRA – No findings
Westmoreland County
Carbon VFRA – No findings
Hempfield Township Volunteer Hose Co. No. 2 VFRA – No findings
Lloydsville VFRA – No findings
Rostraver Central VFRA – No findings
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