Pennsylvania’s Auditor General Timothy Defoor has released the results of audits of Volunteer Firefighters Relief Associations across the state, including three such groups in Indiana County.
The department of the Auditor General distributes state aid for these organizations and audits how the funds are used. The money comes from the 2 percent tax on fire insurance policies sold in Pennsylvania by out-of-state companies. Over $68 million went out to over 2500 municipalities for distribution. The money is meant to provide training, purchase equipment and insurance, and pay for death benefits for volunteer firefighters.
Results were released for three relief organizations in Indiana County. The Homer City Volunteer Firemen’s Relief Association organization had no negative findings in its audit. Commodore’s organization had one finding for inadequate minutes of meetings and relief association bylaws.
The Cherry Tree Fire Company Relief Organization had four findings against it: Noncompliance with prior recommendations for failure to deposit proceeds from the sale of a jointly purchased vehicle, for undocumented expenditures and for inadequate meeting minutes and bylaws. There was also a finding for an unauthorized expenditure.
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