CHARLESTON, WV (LOOTPRESS) – The West Virginia Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill 500 today, granting the West Virginia Legislative Auditor sole authority to conduct regular financial reviews of the state’s volunteer fire departments.
Currently, both the Legislative Auditor and the State Auditor conduct separate audits of the state’s more than 400 volunteer fire departments, with the Legislative Auditor reviewing only state funds and the State Auditor overseeing all financial transactions.
“This bill eliminates unnecessary duplication, making the process more efficient and reducing the burden of multiple audits on our volunteer fire departments,” said State Auditor Mark Hunt.
While Senate Bill 500 consolidates the audit process under the Legislative Auditor, it does not change the existing requirement that each volunteer fire department undergo an audit at least once every five years. Additional audits may still be conducted if concerns arise about financial mismanagement, misuse of funds, or waste.
Senator Laura Chapman (R-Ohio), who sponsored the bill, emphasized that the scope of these audits will continue to include all income, assets, liabilities, and expenditures of each department, regardless of funding source.
Under the bill, if the Legislative Auditor detects suspicious financial activity, the matter must be reported to the State Auditor’s Office for further investigation and potential prosecution.
Senate Bill 500 now moves to the West Virginia House of Delegates for consideration. The Legislature’s regular session concludes on April 12.
