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West Deer supervisors press volunteer fire companies for standardized financial reports after new fire tax
Summary
After passage of a flat 0.50‑mill fire tax, supervisors pressed local volunteer fire companies for consistent, comprehensive financial reports; companies said they provide QuickBooks profit‑and‑loss statements and year‑end balance sheets but formats vary. The Board and fire representatives agreed to meet in January to resolve format and detail differences and avoid escalation to fund withholding under the ordinance.
A lengthy and sometimes tense exchange between the Board of Supervisors and representatives of West Deer’s three volunteer fire companies over financial reporting occupied much of the Dec. 18 meeting.
Manager Mator told the Board that following last year’s referendum creating a 0.50‑mill flat fire tax, supervisors asked for regular, comprehensive financial reports “so that the Board can see what kind of actions are going on,” adding, "As long as the public is going to be giving fire taxes for fire protection in the Township, there needs to be some level of transparency that the Board can see what kind of actions are going on." (Mr. Mator)
Chair Mrs. Jordan said the expectation for standardized, complete reporting had been discussed in prior meetings with the companies and the township solicitor. "We all knew when we left that meeting what the expectation was," she said.
Fire company leaders and treasurers responded that they have been providing the profit‑and‑loss reports and year‑end balance sheets requested, and that they use QuickBooks; VFC #3 Treasurer Ms. Wiegand said, "I've never been approached and said, hey, we need more information." President of VFC #3 Mr. Skrbin echoed that if the Board identifies a specific missing item, the company will provide it.
Representatives acknowledged that submitted reports differ in layout and detail. Manager Mator and several supervisors said inconsistency hampers the Board’s ability to evaluate fiscal health. One supervisor raised the possibility — per the ordinance's noncompliance provision — that funds not expended due to noncompliance "shall be held in a Fire Tax Fund for future distribution by the Board of Supervisors as part of the annual budgeting process, solely for the purpose of fire protection." The Board did not withhold funds at the meeting.
Fire company representative Mr. Adamik said, "I'm not saying we're not giving it to you. We're giving you what you asked for," and asked the Board to identify specific formatting or data gaps. Board members proposed a near‑term solution: supervisors Fleming and Hollibaugh volunteered to meet with the fire companies in December/January to review the reports and agree a standard format — ideally QuickBooks exports showing all accounts and year‑end balances — with Manager Mator available to support follow up.
The Board requested that the meeting be convened before the January regular session and that the matter be placed on the January agenda for final review. The exchange included concern about perception and potential conflicts of interest when supervisors have dual roles; Chair Jordan asked for careful handling and transparency. No formal action to withhold funds was taken during the meeting; the Board recommended direct meetings to reach a standardized reporting format.
