Auditor General DePasquale Releases Audits for Volunteer Firefighters’ Relief Associations in Nine Counties
Auditor General DePasquale Releases Audits for Volunteer Firefighters’ Relief Associations in Nine Counties
HARRISBURG (Dec. 3, 2019) – Auditor General Eugene DePasquale today announced the release of audit reports for volunteer firefighters’ relief associations (VFRAs) in Adams, Berks, Delaware, Erie, Lehigh, Luzerne, McKean, Schuylkill and Westmoreland counties.
“Volunteer firefighters’ relief associations help to provide essential life-saving equipment, critical training and insurance for thousands of volunteer firefighters and emergency service providers,” DePasquale said.
State aid for VFRAs comes from a 2 percent tax on fire insurance policies sold in Pennsylvania by out-of-state 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.
Adams 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 maintain a complete and accurate equipment roster.
Berks County
Womelsdorf VFRA – No findings.
Delaware County
Bethel Township 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 equipment roster.
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 two findings: undocumented expenditures and inadequate signatory authority for the disbursement of funds.
The VFRA had $887 in undocumented expenses that included $555 for a hotel vendor and $182 for a rental car vendor.
Lehigh 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 failure to maintain a complete and accurate membership roster.
The VFRA had $2,766 in undocumented expenditures for training expenses in 2017.
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 had $49,622 in cash assets but only $40,000 in bond coverage.
McKean County
Rew VFRA – No findings.
Schuylkill 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 $40,051 in cash assets but only $40,000 in bond coverage.
Westmoreland County
Kecksburg VFRA – No findings.
Trafford Fire Co. No. 1 VFRA – No findings.
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