Emergency Volunteers Get Tax Credit

Now that all of the tax forms have been sent people are starting to sit down with their paperwork and State Senator Andy Dinniman of Chester County wants to remind volunteer firefighters that they are due a special tax credit. Dinniman is a member of the Senate Committee on Emergency Preparedness. He says volunteer firefighters, ambulance and rescue squad personnel can take $100 credit on the state income taxes they paid in 2008. However, to get the credit the volunteers must get a form from their local elected official’s office. He says, “Volunteer firefighters and emergency first responders put their lives in danger each day to ensure the safety and well-being of our communities. This tax credit is not only a small token of our appreciation but also an important first step in attracting and retaining emergency services volunteers.” Dinniman says it has been estimated that if municipalities had to hire professional first responders it would cost a collective $7 Billion. The number of volunteer fire fighters in PA dropped from 152,000 in 1985 to fewer than 70,000 in 2004.