Slippery Rock gives tax credit to volunteer emergency responders
A new ordinance will give volunteer members of the Slippery Rock Volunteer Fire Company and Rescue Team a local income tax credit of up to $250.
Borough council unanimously passed the ordinance at a meeting July 25, allowing for the tax credit. Slippery Rock Mayor Jondavid Longo said active volunteer firefighters and EMTs are eligible for the tax credit.
“It was to thank and honor those borough residents who have and continue to put themselves in harm's way,” Longo said, “but also to encourage other borough residents to join volunteer emergency services, which they can do through Slippery Rock Volunteer Fire Company.”
According to Longo, volunteer fire company administrators will report to the borough which of its members are active and eligible for the tax credit. Longo said the credit can be applied to a Slippery Rock resident’s local income tax, in an amount up to $250 per year.
“This is specifically for borough residents who volunteer for Slippery Rock Volunteer Fire Company,” he said. “We are taxing entity, so in order to allow the income tax credit for anyone, they would have to pay taxes to us.
“Nobody could retroactively apply for tax credit.”
Longo said he and borough council also want to see the ordinance implemented in other municipalities, in order to combat the decreasing number of emergency responders Pennsylvania has been seeing in recent years.
“Slippery Rock is particularly blessed because we have a very active and robust community of volunteers,” Longo said. “Our hope is that other municipalities in the commonwealth will follow suit in addressing the first responder shortage we are facing.”
