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Commissioners review proposal to create volunteer service tax credit for EMS and volunteer fire responders
Summary
A proposed Crawford County resolution would offer a county tax credit up to $500 or up to 100% of county tax liability for qualifying volunteer EMS and fire responders; commissioners discussed program parameters and next steps during the Sept. 17 work session.
Crawford County commissioners discussed a proposed resolution at the Sept. 17 work session that would establish a volunteer service tax credit program for county EMS and volunteer fire responders.
Commissioner Sealy outlined the proposal, saying it would offer qualifying volunteers “up to 100% or $500 of their county tax liability as a refund, whichever is less.” He and other commissioners described the measure as an incremental step intended to help retain and recruit volunteers amid broader statewide staffing challenges.
Commissioner Sealy said the program would include qualification requirements and call‑response thresholds, and that municipal partners in the county have expressed interest in adopting similar incentives. He told the board the program would be effective next year to give time for implementation and recordkeeping procedures. Commissioners said chief officers at volunteer agencies would be responsible for maintaining records of service; Sealy noted the program would be subject to audit.
“...Heck, if you know you might get that $500 incentive, you might just roll out of bed one more time at 3 in the morning,” Commissioner Sealy said during the discussion.
Commissioners credited municipalities such as Westmead and Vernon for already offering similar tax credits and said a county program could serve as a catalyst for other local governments. Commissioners also discussed the fiscal tradeoffs of paying volunteers directly at the municipal level versus offering a county tax credit, and recognized the program is not a complete solution to the volunteer‑response shortfall.
The resolution was presented for adoption; commissioners discussed details but no formal adoption or roll call vote was recorded in the work‑session transcript. Staff asked that the resolution be finalized in writing and brought back for formal consideration.
