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 (Feb. 12, 2020)– Auditor General Eugene DePasquale today announced the release of audit reports for volunteer firefighters’ relief associations (VFRAs) in Armstrong, Butler, Centre, Chester, Clinton, Delaware, Jefferson, Lackawanna, Lancaster, Lehigh, Luzerne, McKean, Northampton, Northumberland, Venango, Washington and Westmoreland counties.
“Volunteer firefighter relief associations support fire and rescue crews as they perform their dedicated, often heroic, duties,” DePasquale said. “We are forever grateful.”
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.
Armstrong County
Ford Cliff VFRA – No findings.
Leechburg VFRA – No findings.
Butler 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 had $27,746 in cash assets but only $25,000 in bond coverage.
Centre 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 had $276,249 in cash assets but only $250,000 in bond coverage.
Chester County
Glen Moore VFRA – No findings.
Clinton County
Lock Haven VFRA – No findings.
Delaware County
Upland VFRA – No findings.
Jefferson County
Summerville Area VFRA – No findings.
Lackawanna County
Dickson City VFRA – No findings.
Lancaster County
Blue Rock Fire Rescue VFRA – No findings.
Lehigh County
Washington Township VFRA – No findings.
Luzerne County
Harwood 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 two findings: inadequate minutes of meetings, and undocumented and/or unauthorized disbursement of relief association funds.
The VFRA paid $30,500 to the affiliated fire company to assist with costs of operations. The documentation provided said the payments were loans, but there was only one promissory note for $5,000 between the VFRA and affiliated fire company.
West Wyoming Hose 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 one finding: failure to maintain a complete and accurate membership roster.
McKean County
Derrick City VFRA – No findings.
Hilltop VFRA – No findings.
Mount Jewett VFRA – No findings.
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 two findings: noncompliance with prior audit recommendations for inadequate minutes of meetings and failure to maintain a complete and accurate equipment roster.
Northumberland County
Upper Augusta VFRA – No findings.
Venango County
Pleasantville VFRA – No findings.
Washington County
Cecil Township Fire Co. No. 2 VFRA – No findings.
Westmoreland County
Marguerite VFRA – No findings.
Pleasant Unity VFRA – No findings.
Upper Burrell Township Fire Co. No. 1 VFRA – No findings.
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