Oct. 27, 2016
HARRISBURG – Rep. Ryan Warner’s (R-Fayette/Westmoreland) legislation authorizing local municipalities to enact earned income and property tax liability tax credits for active volunteers of a fire company or emergency medical service (EMS) company was unanimously approved by the House on concurrence on Thursday.
“Recruitment and retention of volunteers in our emergency services community are very vital and recruiting and maintaining volunteers have never been more difficult,” said Warner. “Thanks once again to my colleagues in the House for taking a bipartisan stand to give something back to those who volunteer their time and willingly risk their lives to ensure the safety of our communities and loved ones.”
House Bill 1683 would grant municipalities the authority to offer active volunteers a tax credit of up to 20 percent of their tax liability.
A study conducted by the Pennsylvania Fire and Emergency Services Institute in 2001 found that volunteer fire service companies yielded about $6 billion in avoided costs to local governments.
“The financial demands on our local fire and ambulance companies are increasing all the time, with costs adding up quickly for equipment, training and operational expenses,” Warner said. “These volunteers spend a great deal of their time not only responding to emergencies but raising funds to keep their doors open. There is never enough praise that can be given to our first responders. Enacting this legislation into law is the least our state can do to help ensure this essential emergency coverage continues.”
House Bill 1683 now awaits the governor’s signature. Visit
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Representative Ryan Warner
52nd Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Ty McCauslin
717.772.9979
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