House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda

In the very near future, I plan on re-introducing legislation (former HB 1705) authorizing school districts to enact a tax credit against the property tax liability of active volunteers of a fire or EMS company.

Recruitment and retention of volunteers in our emergency services community is very vital and currently is suffering from the ability to recruit and maintain volunteers. We all depend on these hard working and dedicated first responders on a daily basis to protect our citizens and our properties.

As you may recall, the General Assembly passed Act 172 of 2016 authorizing local municipalities to adopt a property tax credit for first responders.

My proposal expands Act 172 by authorizing school districts to offer active volunteers a tax credit. In addition, the current property tax credit allowance is up to 20% of an active volunteer’s tax liability. My proposal increases this amount to up to 100% of their tax liability across the board. 

It is important to note that this proposal is one of the recommendations of the SR 6 Report of 2018. Enacting this SR 6 recommendation will assist our political subdivisions with providing an additional tool in the toolbox to strengthen our recruitment and retention efforts across the Commonwealth.

Act 172 has already provided the foundation for these tax credits, to that end, please consider joining me in building on this foundation to strengthen our fire and EMS delivery system across the Commonwealth.

 

Previous Sponsors:  GABLER, BARRAR, BERNSTINE, CAUSER, CIRESI, DeLUCA,   DUNBAR, GALLOWAY, GILLEN, HERSHEY, JAMES, KULIK, OWLETT,PYLE, SAINATO, SCHLOSSBERG, SCHMITT, STAATS, STEPHENS, WARNER AND WEBSTER