The Spring Creek Township Volunteer Firemen’s Association has been given a clean bill of financial health by state Auditor General Tim DeFoor.

DeFoor’s office recently released its audit of the association. The audit was short and raised only one minor issue.

“We were not able to obtain copies of canceled or imaged checks from the relief association,” the audit states. “While the relief association provided copies of bank statements, the relief association failed to provide copies of canceled or imaged checks. Without copies of canceled or imaged checks, we were not able to determine whether two relief association officers authorized and signed the checks as required by the VFRA Act.”

The Auditor General’s office distributes state aid for Volunteer Firefighter Relief Associations across the state, with the money used to provide equipment, insurance and other forms of support to volunteer firefighters and the volunteer firefighter service. That money is generated by a 2% tax on fire insurance policies sold in Pennsylvania by out-of-state companies. In 2024, $68.26 million went to 2,501 municipalities. The Auditor General’s office routinely audits Volunteer Firefighter Relief Associations to make sure the money is spent in accordance with state law.

“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 and the communities they serve.”

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 Auditor General’s 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.

In the case of Spring Creek, the audit was a clean one.

“Based on our audit procedures, we conclude that, except for the effects, if any, of the matters described in the preceding paragraph, for the period January 1, 2022, to December 31, 2023, the relief association, in all significant aspects, 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,” the audit states.