New law allows any local government to provide a tax credit for volunteer firefighters and ambulance corps members
ROCKLAND, NY – Senator Elijah Reichlin-Melnick and Assemblyman Ken Zebrowski announced that volunteer first responders have an extra reason to celebrate this holiday season as Governor Kathy Hochul has now signed the bill these Rockland legislators authored (S9131/A10155) to allow any local government to provide a tax credit for volunteer firefighters and ambulance corps members has finally become law.
Now it is up to local governments to decide whether to adopt a local law to exempt up to 10% of the assessed value of a primary home for volunteers who have been members of a volunteer fire department or ambulance service for at least two years.
“This is a big win that will be celebrated by volunteer first responders especially when they are able to enjoy the savings on their property tax bill. Volunteer first responders have served Rockland for more than a century and a half, and we must do everything we can to support those who serve today and provide tools to ensure the sustainability of volunteer companies for the future,” said Senator Elijah Reichlin-Melnick.
“The volunteer first responders who serve our community work hard every day to keep our communities safe, and this law will demonstrate our appreciation for their work. It is also imperative that we work to ensure that our volunteer fire departments and ambulance corps are able to effectively retain and recruit members. This law will go a long way towards ensuring that. I thank Gov. Hochul for signing this bill into law and look forward to continuing to work with our volunteer first responders to ensure they have the support they deserve,” said Assemblyman Ken Zebrowski.
“We would like to thank Senator Reichlin-Melnick and Assemblyman Zebrowski for their leadership in supporting volunteer first responders. We welcome anything that will help us recruit and retain volunteers. We have members of the department moving out of the district because of high taxes. This new law should help us retain firefighters to keep Rockland County 100% volunteer,” said Don Arterburn, Commissioner with the Pearl River Fire District Board of Commissioners.
“Volunteers are a critical part of our ability to serve our community. We are grateful to Senator Reichlin-Melnick and Assemblyman Zebrowski for their leadership in helping volunteer first responders,” said Ephraim Tauber, Chief of Spring Hill Community Ambulance Corps.