Bucks fire company cited in state audit

BUCKS COUNTY

Bensalem fire company cited

Pennsylvania Auditor General Eugene DePasquale on Friday announced the release of audit reports for volunteer firefighter relief associations in Allegheny, Armstrong, Blair, Bucks, Cumberland, Indiana, and Monroe Counties.

The Department of the Auditor General examines the associations, which receive state aid from a 2 percent state tax on fire insurance premiums bought by Pennsylvanians from out-of-state casualty insurance companies.

In 2014, $68.25 million in state aid was distributed through funding municipalities to nearly 1,950 associations to provide training, buy equipment and insurance, and pay for death benefits for volunteer firefighters.

In Bucks, for the period Jan. 1, 2010 through Dec. 31, 2013, the Union Fire Company Relief Association of Bensalem was cited for undocumented and unauthorized spending.

The full audit reports with findings are available online at: http://www.auditorgen.state.pa.us/audit-reports.

- Inquirer staff