Bill Would Offer Incentives to Volunteer Firefighters

Citing a recent study showing that volunteer fire departments save New York taxpayers more than $3 billion a year, a trio of area lawmakers is urging the state Legislature to make it easier for them to recruit and retain members.

State Sen. Tom O’Mara, R-58 of Big Flats; Assemblyman Phil Palmesano, R-132 of Corning; and Assemblyman Chris Friend, R-124 of Big Flats, have reintroduced a bill called the Omnibus Emergency Services and Volunteer Incentive Act. It would:

• Offer a $400 state income tax credit to volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers active for four or more consecutive years.

• Exempt vehicles owned by volunteers and used in their duties from registration fees and vehicle use taxes.

• Authorize fire and ambulance companies to use state-administered funds collected from a 2 percent premium on out-of-state insurers to offset the cost of members’ health insurance.

• Create a college loan forgiveness program for volunteers.

The lawmakers said the study by the Firemen’s Association of New York State reaffirms the importance of keeping volunteer ranks as strong as possible.

“We have to keep sounding the alarm on the volunteer recruitment and retention challenge, and we have to keep seeking solutions,” they said in a joint press release. “This legislation helps keep the challenge in front of the Legislature. Incentives aren’t the only answer, but they can be an effective part of a broader response.

“The volunteer fire department has anchored so many of our communities for so long, and we can’t overlook the fact that many are at risk. It endangers the safety and security of cities, towns and villages throughout the Southern Tier and Finger Lakes regions, and statewide. And as the new FASNY report makes clear, it’s a property tax crisis in waiting.”

FASNY said the state would need an additional 30,822 paid firefighters to replace the volunteer departments, which would cost taxpayers $3.87 billion a year. There also would be a one-time bill of $5.95 billion to buy existing fire stations and equipment.

That would raise taxes statewide an average of 26.5 percent, FASNY said.

“New York state as a whole relies heavily on volunteer fire departments,” the study said. “Of its 1,795 municipal fire departments, 89 percent are volunteer. Volunteer firefighters are most prevalent in smaller suburban and rural communities that have a lesser tax base than larger towns and cities. That these communities rely on volunteers testifies to cost savings from volunteer departments, and conversion to paid departments would be a particular burden for these localities.”