Telford Volunteer Fire Company Relief Assoication had a perfect compliance audit for the period from Jan. 1, 2020 to Dec. 31, 2022, announced the Pennsylvania Auditor General last week.
The state Department of the Auditor General is required by law to audit volunteer fire relief associations and municipal pension plans that receive state aid through the department. According to a news release, the department also audits liquid fuels tax usage by municipalities, and general county and state government offices.
Telford was one of 38 volunteer firefighters’ relief associations audited in 23 counties, including Montgomery and Bucks.
The state aid for VFRA is generated by a 2% tax on fire insurance policies sold in the state by companies from out of state, per the Auditor General. VFRAs then use the funds for training, equipment purchases, insurance costs, and to cover death benefits for volunteer firefighters.
If VFRAs do not comply, per the state, then future state aid can be withheld. All relief associations are separate entities from their respective supported fire departments.
Based on our audit procedures, we conclude that, for the period January 1, 2020, to December 31, 2022, the relief association, in all significant respects, 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,” wrote Auditor General Timothy L. DeFoor in the audit.
Telford Vol. Fire Co. Relief Association was allocated state aid from two Montgomery County municipalities -- Franconia Township and Telford Borough -- and two Bucks County municipalities, Hilltown and West Rockhill townships.
In 2020, 2021, and 2022, Franconia Township allocated $29,973, $24,665, and $34,595, respectively, to Telford, according to the audit. During those same years, Telford Borough allocated, respectively, $27,115, $24,231, and $29,873.
In 2020, 2021, and 2022, Hilltown Township allocated $6,623, $5,746, and $7,239, respectively. West Rockhill, during those same timeframes, allocated to Telford $13,605, $12,174, and $15,156, per the audit.
The relief association reported its cash, as of Dec. 31, 2022, as $107,171, and its fair value of investments as $241,293, per the audit.
Between Jan. 1, 2020 and Dec. 31, 2022, the relief association spent a total of $260.867, according to the report. Some of the highlights of expenditures are $53,482 for new equipment, $122,258 for insurance premiums, and $17,342 for training expenses.
The Telford Vol. Fire Co. Relief Association governing body is President Jerry Guretse, Vice President Allen Boyer, Secretary Thomas Pivnichny, Treasurer Eamon O'Reilly, and Trustees John Karaban, Brett Thomas, and Justin Gross.
