Auditor General DePasquale Releases Audits for Volunteer Firefighters’ Relief Associations in Eight Counties
Auditor General DePasquale Releases Audits for Volunteer Firefighters’ Relief Associations in Eight Counties
HARRISBURG (March 4, 2020) – Auditor General Eugene DePasquale today announced the release of audit reports for volunteer firefighters’ relief associations (VFRAs) in Allegheny, Armstrong, Clarion, Dauphin, Lancaster, Montgomery, Schuylkill and Sullivan counties.
“My oversight of relief associations helps to make sure volunteer firefighters have the resources they need to protect our citizens and communities,” DePasquale said. “State aid must be used efficiently and effectively to help purchase life-saving equipment, training and insurance for thousands of first-responders.”
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.
Allegheny County
Robinson Township VFRA – No findings.
Armstrong County
Applewold VFRA – No findings.
Clarion County
Limestone Township VFRA – No findings.
Dauphin County
Millersburg 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 one finding: noncompliance with prior audit recommendation for failure to maintain a complete and accurate equipment roster.
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 five findings: failure to deposit proceeds from the sale of a jointly purchased vehicle and noncompliance with prior audit recommendations for failure to maintain minutes of meetings, undocumented expenditures, inadequate internal controls, and inadequate relief association bylaws.
As a result of the audit, the relief association received $19,750 from the affiliated fire company resulting from the sale of an engine and pumper that the VFRA had helped to purchase.
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 maintain a complete and accurate equipment roster.
Schuylkill County
Schuylkill Haven VFRA – No findings.
Sullivan 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 receipt and deposit of state aid.
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