St. Mary's County proposes tiered tax credit program for volunteer firefighters and EMS

The St. Mary’s County Commissioners discussed a new tiered tax credit program aimed at supporting volunteer firefighters and emergency medical services (EMS) personnel during their recent meeting. This initiative seeks to enhance volunteerism in the community by providing financial incentives to those who serve.

The proposed program includes three tiers of benefits based on the level of service provided by volunteers. The first tier offers a $1,000 property tax credit or stipend for volunteers who achieve 50 points in the Length of Service Award Program (LOSAP). The second tier increases the benefit to $2,000 for those who respond to 100 calls or 20% of their station's calls. The third tier, which rewards volunteers who respond to 200 calls or 40% of their station's calls, would provide a total of $3,000.

Commissioners emphasized the importance of this program in attracting and retaining volunteers, particularly in areas with lower call volumes. The initiative was brought forward by the Emergency Services Board, reflecting ongoing discussions about how to better support those who dedicate their time to public safety.

A key point of the discussion was the timeline for implementing the program. If approved, the benefits would be based on service data from the previous calendar year, specifically 2024, and would take effect in the fiscal year 2026 budget starting July 1, 2025. This means that volunteers would need to meet the required service levels in 2024 to qualify for the benefits in the following year.

The commissioners plan to hold a public hearing on April 22 to gather community input before making a final decision on the program during their budget work session on May 6. This step is crucial to ensure that the program meets the needs of the volunteers and the community effectively.

Overall, the proposed tax credit program represents a significant step toward recognizing and rewarding the contributions of volunteer firefighters and EMS personnel in St. Mary’s County, aiming to bolster community safety and engagement.