ALBANY — Assemblymember Didi Barrett, D-106, presented legislation Thursday at a press conference in Albany in support of first responders as part of a campaign to assist emergency medical service employees.
The bill package will provide support for first responders, such as firefighters and EMS workers in New York state.
Legislators worked with the New York Association of Counties to craft the package of bills.
The bill Barrett backs would allow volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers to collect the New York State Volunteer Firefighters and Ambulance Workers’ Income Tax Credit, in addition to local property tax exemption.
Other legislation in the package includes bills to deem EMS an essential service, removing EMS services from the property tax cap, and authorizing increasing the Volunteer Firefighters’ and Ambulance Workers’ Tax Credit from $200 to $800.
“Fire Departments and EMS providers across the state are facing significant hardship, with recruitment challenges, aging membership and insufficient financial support,” Barrett said in a statement. “In rural districts, like mine, most of our heroic first responders are volunteers who serve their communities with pride.”
Columbia County EMS Coordinator PJ Keeler said that he was fully supportive of the legislative efforts, especially those that allow counties to form EMS tax districts.
“In Columbia County, taxpayer support amounts to over $3.5 million per year with varying amounts of support from its towns and cities, while all are receiving the same level of service,” he said. “Without consistent funding, EMS services will not be able to meet health care complexities moving forward.
“These districts will allow for taxpayer transparency while also giving counties the flexibility in forming their unique EMS services.”
Antonio Fuentes, president of Greene County Fireman’s Association and captain of the Athens Fire Department, said the tax credit could help volunteer fire departments boost those already helping the community.
“Being president, we look for members throughout the county, and we are seeing a lack of interest more so now than 10 years ago,” he said. “It starts to get hard on us when we try to recruit younger members because there’s no interest. The tax credit can give us a boost, and give those already helping the community a boost to validate what they’re doing.”
Although some people will argue and say it’s not enough, the legislation is a place to start, Fuentes added.
“I think that the incentive New York state legislation is allowing members of the fire and EMS services to collect the income property tax and the firefighter and ambulance tax credit is a great reward for many, like myself,” he said. “This is just another great thing for fire and EMS service personnel to receive for their fine work.”