Penn. Township to Offer Tax Breaks for Firefighters

"I think it's a great idea," fire Chief Barry Emerson said Thursday during a public hearing on the proposal. "As most of you know, it's the most expensive volunteer organization I think you can belong to.

"It's great to get a little bit of a break."

Jackson Township is among the first municipalities in the state to take advantage of a law designed to help recruit volunteer emergency responders, township Manager David Hirko said.

Gov. Tom Wolf signed Act 129 in November, allowing municipalities to provide tax incentives for "municipal volunteers of fire companies and nonprofit emergency medical services agencies."

Jackson firefighters who provide at least 100 hours of qualifying volunteer service could get reductions of 20 percent of their township real estate tax and up to $200 from earned income tax under the proposed township ordinance, Hirko said.

"It was a no-brainer for us," supervisors Chairman Bruce Baker said after the hearing.

"We have a very good fire company," Baker said. "It's the least that we can do for the department, because, obviously, they are doing a lot for us."

Longtime firefighter Ed Westrick, who is chairman of the Jackson East Taylor Sewer Authority, also spoke in favor of the proposed ordinance.

"It may help get more people to join fire companies," Westrick said. "The reason I joined was to help people, but this is another incentive, at least."

The state law requires a public hearing at least 30 days before the ordinance can be approved, township Solicitor William G. Barbin explained to those attending Monday's hearing--including about a dozen volunteer firefighters.

Supervisor John Wallet said he expects the measure to pass at a June meeting.

Wallet commended the state lawmakers for designing the tax-break opportunity.

"It is finally time that the state legislature pass something like this that we can pass on to stymie the loss of firefighters," Wallet said. "I compliment them for doing it."

Emerson said it is getting tough to recruit new members.

He said the Jackson fire company has about the same number of members as 10 years ago.

"I'm thinking it's pretty close to the same," Emerson said. "It's just that we're all older. We're not getting any younger. That's where we need younger people."

During the regular meeting Thursday, Baker announced the annual Jackson Township Fishing Derby will be held May 20 at the new Loraine Park Fishing Pond just outside Nanty Glo.

The pond has been constructed during the past year and a half at the township's expense.

The township is anticipating $275,000 approved last July by CPV Fairview, developer of a gas-fired power plant under construction off of Route 271 near Vinco.

CPV Fairview agreed last year to pay the township $275,000 for a new fishing pond and $50,000 to the Jackson Township Volunteer Fire Company as part of a community impact agreement.

The entire $325,000 was presented this week during a ceremony at the fire company.

That is not the end of CPV's support for the host community. When the power plant goes online, the plant will pay $500,000 a year into a Community Foundation for the Alleghenies fund to be overseen by trustees appointed by the township and CPV to benefit the township.

Emerson said the fire company does not have any immediate plans for the windfall, but noted the organization is facing upgrades for two vehicles in the next few years.

"It gets expensive after a while," he said.

Randy Griffith is a multimedia reporter for The Tribune-Democrat. He can be reached at 532-5057. Follow him on Twitter @PhotoGriffer57.

___ (c)2017 The Tribune-Democrat (Johnstown, Pa.) Visit The Tribune-Democrat (Johnstown, Pa.) at www.tribune-democrat.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.