HARRISBURG — Auditor General Timothy DeFoor announced audit reports have been released for 23 Volunteer Firefighters’ Relief Associations (VFRAs) including for one in McKean County.
“Relief associations provide vital support to Pennsylvania’s dedicated first responders,” DeFoor said. “Our audits make sure state aid is used to equip and protect volunteer firefighters.”
The Department of the Auditor General distributes state aid for VFRAs and audits how they use the funds, which are generated by a 2% tax on fire insurance policies sold in Pennsylvania by out-of-state companies. In 2021, $54 million went to 2,517 municipalities for distribution to VFRAs to provide training, purchase equipment and insurance, and pay for death benefits for volunteer firefighters.
Audit reports are available online at www.PaAuditor.gov/audit-reports.
For McKean County, no findings were reported in the audit of Mount Jewett Volunteer Firefighters’ Relief Association, www.paauditor.gov/Media/Default/Reports/
VFRAs may have future state aid withheld if they do not comply with applicable state laws, contracts, bylaws and administrative procedures. Relief associations are separate legal entities from the fire departments they support.
The department is required by law to audit volunteer fire relief associations and municipal pension plans that receive state aid through the department; liquid fuels tax usage by municipalities; various county offices and numerous other state government entities.
