YORK COUNTY, Pa. — Fire and EMS departments nationwide are struggling to find volunteers, including in York County.
“It’s more of a crisis than people realize it is," said Chad Deardorff, president of the York County Fire Chiefs and Firefighters Association.
That’s why the county is taking big steps in an effort to help.
"They are risking their lives to keep our communities safe so it's really important for us to do what we can to help incentivize and motivate folks to want to be volunteer firefighters,” said Julie Wheeler, York County President Commissioner.
On Wednesday, the county's Board of Commissioners approved an up to 100% county tax rebate for active volunteer firefighters and EMS workers, along with a 50% rebate for auxiliary members.
You must own a home to be eligible for the rebate.
“For the amount of money it costs to do something like this, compared to if a municipality has to fund a fully-staffed fire department is apples to oranges," said Deardorff. "It’s a significant difference.”
In 2022, the county became the first in the state to approve a tax rebate for volunteer first responders. Up until now, active volunteers were eligible for a 50% rebate and auxiliary members were eligible for a 25% rebate.
This week’s move is now a more aggressive approach.
“I think it will attract people," said Deardorff. "I think there’s a benefit now that they have to come into and say ‘Hey you know what they do appreciate us. People do appreciate us, people do think about us.”
The hope is that the program will help departments that are already struggling financially recruit and retain volunteers.
“I would encourage our other municipalities to get on board and do the same thing we’re doing at a county level," said Wheeler.
More information about the tax rebate program can be found on York County's website. Wheeler said the website will soon be updated to reflect the newly-approved rebate program.
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