Rep. Joe Hogan (R-Bucks) this month introduced legislation that would create a tax credit for firefighters and EMS personnel, to help recruit and retain their services in Pennsylvania.
“The pandemic, with its resulting shutdowns and civil unrest has had a disastrous impact on recruitment, as communities that rely on volunteers to fill these needs have experienced an unprecedented drop in recruitment,” Hogan said. “We should do anything we can to promote more recruitment into these professions, so our communities are able to keep their citizens safe.”
House Bill 1557 will give a $2,500 tax credit per year over three years to fire and EMS personnel who currently serve in Pennsylvania and those who to move our state to take up these positions.
https://www.facebook.com/RepHogan/videos/5841433549295681
“I am now proposing we provide the same tax relief to firefighters and emergency medical service personnel that we recently gave to teachers, police officers and nurses,” Hogan said, “Both provide lifesaving services and are critical to the standard of living that each Pennsylvanian should expect. Firefighters and EMS personnel are some of the most crucial workers in the , and we should do whatever we can to keep them in the state.”
Bristol Borough Fire Association President Steve Reeves when asked for comment about the measure said all levels of government should be investing in volunteer services.
“It’s paramount that our local, state and federal leaders invest in the volunteer fire service now. If not, each community will be paying for a paid service through increased taxes,” he said. Additionally ,… the community needs to support these organizations by volunteering. We provide free training that will provide each member with new and tangible skills.”
Since the 1970s, the ranks of volunteer firefighters in Pennsylvania have dropped from 360,000 to fewer than 37,000, according to, Politics PA. More than a third of volunteers in small communities were over the age of 50 in 2020, according to the National Fire Protection Association.
The lack of volunteers and many firefighters “aging out” of the services combined with volunteer numbers continuing to plummet Pennsylvania residents will have to pay up for fire protection in a similar fashion to other civic services, PoliticsPA.com says.
The hope is of course the proposed tax credit will attract new first responder volunteers and employees.
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