You can help recruit fire department volunteers on taxes

The State of New York recently signed into law a measure that will allow taxpayers to use a check-off on their state income tax form for a donation to help recruit volunteer firefighters.

“I would ask our village residents to take advantage of this new state income tax provision which can be used to help to continue to recruit volunteer firefighters in our community,” said Lynbrook Fire Chief Raymond Burke. “As this new legislation was just past by the State of New York, it will not know what grant monies will be available this year until all state income taxes are paid. The Lynbrook Fire Department will review the newly enacted legislation and make a determination in the near future on how a possible grant can be used to improve recruitment for future volunteers into the Lynbrook Fire Department,”

“As with all volunteer organizations a major key to our success and sustainability is our Recruitment and Retention Program,” said Joseph Mihalich, chief of the East Rockaway Fire Department. “The fact that the state will be offering grant monies available to our department through the generous donations of taxpayers is an opportunity that the grant committee will definitely explore.”

Led by ex-Chief James Carrigan, the grant committee has obtained almost $1 million in federal funding including $144,100 in staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant for recruitment and retention. Some of the programs that been funded by the SAFER Grant money include the ERFD web site, a TV ad, portions of its fire prevention and Junior Fire Department programs — all which have helped with the recruitment of over 25 new members. 

“To have the opportunity to continue to grow this important initiative without increasing the tax burden of our residents is a win-win for our village,” said Mihalich.

The Volunteer Firefighting and Volunteer Emergency Services Recruitment Fund could raise as much as $1 million a year, according to Assemblyman Robert Sweeney of Lindenhurst who sponsored the bill. This will be the first year the state tax form will contain the check-off.

According to the bill, the monies raised will only be used to offer state grants to local fire departments and emergency services organizations for the purpose of volunteer recruitment and retention. The monies may also be used for marketing programs, promotional events, and advertising.