Pennsylvania’s auditor general released the results of an audit of the Connoquenessing Volunteer Fire Company’s Volunteer Fireman’s Relief Association on Thursday, May 22, which found two violations of procedure.

In the audit, which covers the start of 2022 through the end of 2023, the relief association was found to have spent $1,411 on expenditures which are not allowed under the Volunteer Firefighters’ Relief Associations Act, which states what relief associations can and can’t spend money on. The expenditures included maintenance for one of the fire company’s trucks.

According to the report, the relief association was not aware these types of expenditures were not allowed. However, the association was found to have committed a similar violation in the previous audit.

State law only allows relief associations to spend funds on “safeguards for preserving life, health and safety of volunteer firefighters,” as well as any expenses required for the association to function.

In addition, the report notes the relief association failed to account for $40,297 out of $58,331 worth of equipment purchased during the audit period, thus not maintaining a complete roster of equipment. According to fire Chief Matt McConnell, the second infraction was due to a data entry mistake within the department.

A Volunteer Fireman’s Relief Association is a charitable organization formed to provide financial security and equipment for volunteer firefighters. Each department’s relief association is legally separate from the department itself.