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North Penn committee backs variable-rate volunteer firefighter tax rebate; $750 maximum proposed
Summary
The finance committee authorized administration to prepare a resolution and public notice to create a volunteer firefighter property tax rebate program using a variable points-based system with a $750 maximum payout and administrative certification by local fire chiefs.
The North Penn School District Finance Committee voted to move forward with a variable-rate property tax rebate for volunteer firefighters, authorizing administration to prepare a resolution and the required public notice for a hearing.
Tara Hauser, chief financial officer, presented two plan options: a variable-rate, points-based award tied to a department-certified activity list and a fixed-rate award paid to any qualifying volunteer who reached a minimum threshold. "My recommendation is the variable rate plan because it rewards people based on how much they volunteer," Hauser said during the presentation.
Under the variable plan described by Hauser, volunteers earn points for activities such as emergency responses, training, community outreach and leadership roles. To receive the maximum rebate a volunteer would need to accrue 200 points. Administrative staff and other non-response roles would be eligible for a smaller share — "admins only get 10%," Hauser said, using the example that a $750 maximum would yield $75 to eligible administrative volunteers.
Hauser provided recent participation figures from chiefs' reports: approximately 230 volunteers both residing in the district and meeting the draft criteria would have qualified in the prior year. Using that participation level, Hauser said the district would have paid roughly $116,000 if the $750 maximum had been in place for the prior year under the variable model. As examples, a fixed-rate payment of $350 would have cost about $81,000 while a $500 flat payment would have yielded an estimated $115,000.
Board members debated predictability versus incentive. Board Director Rudnick and others argued for a lower, more predictable starting amount; Board Director McMurtry and others supported beginning at the $750 maximum to maximize recruitment incentive. Board Director McBain seconded the motion.
A motion to authorize administration to prepare a resolution and proceed with the public-notice/hearing process for a variable-rate rebate program with a $750 maximum was made by Board Director Stoll and seconded by Board Director McBain. The committee voted in favor; the motion carried.
If adopted after the public hearing and final board approval, the resolution will require the volunteer fire companies to track and certify volunteers' points (Hauser said chiefs or a designated certifier would notarize and certify eligibility) and the district to publish required notices and hold a hearing under board policy and state rules. Administration said it will coordinate with local chiefs and provide the board with the data and calculations used to estimate program costs prior to final adoption.
