Auditor General DePasquale Releases Audits for Volunteer Firefighters’ Relief Associations in Seven Counties
Auditor General DePasquale Releases Audits for Volunteer Firefighters’ Relief Associations in Seven Counties
HARRISBURG (Sept. 10, 2020) – Auditor General Eugene DePasquale today announced the release of audit reports for volunteer firefighters’ relief associations (VFRAs) in Armstrong, Bucks, Columbia, Lackawanna, Northampton, Perry and Westmoreland counties.
“Relief associations support fire and rescue crews as they perform their dedicated, often heroic, duties,” DePasquale said. “Because many fundraisers were canceled by the pandemic, please keep your local first responders in mind when making donations to support your community.”
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
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.
As a result of the audit, the VFRA increased its bond coverage to $200,000.
Bucks County
Chalfont VFRA – No findings.
Columbia 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 did not update its bylaws to require the signatures of at least two officers on checks and contracts.
Lackawanna County
Covington Independent 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: inadequate minutes of meetings and failure to maintain a complete and accurate equipment roster.
Perry 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 three findings: untimely receipt and deposit of state aid, inadequate minutes of meetings and noncompliance with prior audit recommendation for failure to maintain a complete and accurate equipment roster.
Westmoreland County
North Hempfield VFRA – No findings.
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