Auditor General DePasquale Releases Audits for Volunteer Firefighters’ Relief Associations in 9 Counties
Auditor General DePasquale Releases Audits for Volunteer Firefighters’ Relief Associations in 9 Counties
HARRISBURG (Aug. 27, 2019) – Auditor General Eugene DePasquale today announced the release of audit reports for volunteer firefighters’ relief associations (VFRAs) in Allegheny, Beaver, Dauphin, Delaware, Montgomery, Somerset, Washington, Wayne and Westmoreland counties.
“Relief associations help our brave volunteer responders to perform their dedicated, often heroic, duties. We are forever grateful,” 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.
Allegheny County
Forest Grove VFRA – No findings
Beaver County
Fallston VFRA – No findings
Dauphin County
Dauphin-Middle Paxton VFRA – No findings
Delaware 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 signatory authority for the disbursement of funds.
Checks contained the signature of one officer instead of two officers’ signatures, as required by law.
Montgomery 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 monitor investment activity.
A savings account, valued at $7,462, was considered dormant and transferred to the Pennsylvania Department of Treasury. As a result of the audit, the VFRA filed a claim with the Treasury’s Bureau of Unclaimed Property to recover the funds.
Somerset County
Central City Fire Department and VFRA – No findings
Washington County
Marianna VFRA – No findings
Wayne County
Hamlin VFRA – No findings
Westmoreland County
High Park VFRA – No findings
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