When Schoharie County’s Board of Supervisors meets later this month, it will consider a local law that would give tax breaks to fire and Emergency Medical Services volunteers.
Other municipalities are also interested; Mike Hartzel, director for Emergency Services, said each town and school interested in offering the property tax exemption would have to pass their own resolution.
“I think it’s good legislation to help us recruit volunteers,” Mr. Hartzel told supervisors.
Under the proposed local law, eligible volunteers could receive a property tax exemption of up to 10 percent “exclusive of special assessments.”
It would be available to volunteer firefighters and emergency medical personnel, “community-spirited men and women who unselfishly give their time and risk their safety to protect their neighbors without compensation.”
The exemption would only apply to property taxes on primary residences; applicants must have been volunteers for at least five years.
In addition, anyone with 20 or more years of service is eligible for a lifetime exemption as long as their primary residence remains in Schoharie County.
The “un-remarried” spouses of volunteers killed in the line of duty are also eligible for the 10 percent and lifetime exemptions.
Most local fire and rescue squads have been struggling for years to attract volunteers, even as their own expenses rise.
“The Board of Supervisors finds and determines that it is essential for the County and its municipalities to provide real property tax exemptions as an incentive to attract new volunteers and help combat a persistent and alarming decline in the number of volunteers serving as active responders to fire and medical emergencies and unless recruits are found to replace retiring volunteer and seasoned members are encouraged to continue their volunteer service, the health and safety of citizens served by the volunteer firefighter and emergency medical personnel corps may be jeopardized,” the proposed law reads in part.