(Pa) State audit finds unauthorized spending by Arnold's fire relief association ...

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The relief association for Arnold’s two volunteer fire companies improperly paid nearly $5,000 in death benefits for members who had not died, a state audit found.

The expenditures were among five concerns the state Auditor General’s Office had with the operations of the Arnold Volunteer Fire Department Relief Association from 2018 through 2020, according to the results of a compliance audit for those years released this month.

The Arnold relief association is a separate entity affiliated with Arnold Engine Company No. 1 and Citizens Volunteer Fire Company No. 1, also known as Arnold No. 1. According to the audit, Arnold’s relief association received about $54,430 in state aid for 2018 through 2020. It had about $625,650 in cash and investments as of Dec. 31, 2020.

In addition to the unauthorized expenditures, the audit’s findings included untimely receipt and deposit of state aid, failure to maintain a complete and accurate membership roster, inadequate relief association bylaws and failure to adhere to those bylaws, and an inadequate financial record-keeping system. “We are concerned by the number of findings noted and strongly encourage timely implementation of the recommendations noted in this audit report,” states the report signed by Auditor General Timothy DeFoor.

https://triblive.com/local/valley-news-dispatch/state-audit-finds-unauthorized-spending-by-arnolds-fire-relief-association-other-concerns/