PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Six months since Chester County adopted a property tax rebate for volunteer firefighters and EMS, officials say about 60% of those eligible have successfully applied.
Chester County adopted the Active Volunteer Real Estate Tax Rebate Ordinance in October 2023, allowing first responder volunteers to get a rebate on real estate tax imposed by the county.
“Any opportunity we can do to thank people for putting in that work, that training every single week is critically important,” said Chester County Commissioner Josh Maxwell, “because it’s the only value they’re getting back from it. But it is knowing that they’re saving lives, and certainly knowing that they’re appreciated for doing it.”
The ordinance volunteers qualify for points for responding to calls, training, attending meetings, fundraising, or holding leadership roles. The maximum number of points gives a 100% rebate on county property tax.
Chester County Fire Chiefs Association President Gerald DiNunzio said they have been able to spread the word among their volunteers.
“Our biggest hurdle is trying to get the existing homeowners that are here now to say, ‘Yeah, I’m gonna volunteer,’ because a lot of them moved here from areas that have 100% career fire departments that don’t really understand the volunteer service and how it functions,” he said.
So far, 355 volunteers have successfully applied. Maxwell said volunteers have until January 2025 to complete the application, but sooner is better than later.
“We rely on volunteers, specifically out in the rural areas of our county, that are susceptible to things like fires and have just better response times,” Maxwell added. “The more folks you have in the pool [who are] able to respond to things like fires, the higher potential there is for lives to be saved.”