Auditor general cites Washington Township VFD

From staff reports

Pennsylvania Auditor General Eugene DePasquale recently released an audit report citing two deficiencies found during an audit of the Washington Township Volunteer Fire Department Relief Association’s Jan. 1, 2016, to Dec. 31, 2018, records.

The auditor general’s report was issued April 15.

The auditor general found the Washington Township VFDRA 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: failure to maintain a complete and accurate membership roster and noncompliance with prior audit recommendation for undocumented expenditure — the VFRA did not submit adequate documentation to support a $3,243 expenditure to a landscaping company.

Relief association officers are responsible for establishing and maintaining effective internal controls to provide reasonable assurance that the relief association’s administration of state aid and accumulated relief funds complies with applicable state laws, contracts, bylaws, and administrative procedures, including the safeguarding of assets.

The relief association is a charitable organization that was formed primarily to afford financial protection to volunteer firefighters and to encourage individuals to participate in volunteer fire service.

The volunteer firefighters’ relief association and the affiliated fire service organization are separate, legal entities.

The auditor general’s report stated, “Although the relief association received reimbursement from the affiliated fire company for undocumented expenditures that were made in the prior audit period, the relief association was unable to provide adequate supporting documentation for an expenditure amounting to $3,243 to a landscaping company on April 28, 2016.”

The report stated Washington Township VFDRA officials agreed with the findings and agreed to take corrective action on both matters.

There was no allegation that any funding was misappropriated.