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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Gary Haluska |
  
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Haluska announces new volunteer responder tax credit
PATTON, Sept. 22 – State Rep. Gary Haluska, D-Cambria, announced today that a new state income tax credit is available for Cambria County's volunteer responders.
The Volunteer Firefighter Tax Relief Law was created this summer when Haluska, a 35-year member of the Patton Volunteer Fire Company, and fellow House Democrats lead the effort to create the pilot program under the 2008-09 state budget.
"Volunteer fire and emergency squads save our state $6 billion in taxes each year, but I know from my own experience how difficult it is to recruit and keep volunteers," Haluska said. "I am hopeful that this tax break will be an incentive to attract good volunteers, and I'm urging all of our eligible local volunteer responders to take advantage of it."
Under the tax credit program, more than 85,000 Pennsylvanian volunteer responders – including fire, rescue and emergency medical services personnel – can earn a $100 state income tax credit based on volunteer service in 2008. Tax credit applications will be available in January 2009, in time to file 2008 tax returns.
Tax credits will be awarded based on a new point system developed by the Office of the State Fire Commissioner and the director of the Emergency Medical Services Bureau.
Volunteers must earn at least 50 points during 2008 based on their response rates, sleep-in and standby times, earning certifications, training courses and other activities defined by the point system. To view the point system and other details about the tax credit, visit the Web site at www.osfc.state.pa.us and click on "Volunteer Responder Retention and Recruitment Tax Credit." For more information, call the State Fire Commissioner's Office at 1-800-670-3473.
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