Crawford County commissioner asks Penn Crest to adopt volunteer firefighter tax-credit

Eric Henry, chairman of the Crawford County Board of Commissioners, presented to the Penn Crest board a county program that rebates up to $500 of a qualifying resident's county property tax if they meet volunteer-service requirements under state law.

Henry explained eligibility: applicants must be county residents and property owners, complete at least 96 hours of service a year (eight hours monthly) with at least 48 hours on emergency calls, and have the fire chief attest to the service. The program includes a five-year consecutive eligibility guarantee for injured volunteers and a surviving-spouse provision for eligible households, Henry said. "It's a very simple program," Henry said, noting the application requires signatures and that the forms carry penalties for falsification under the criminal statute referenced in the packet.

Fire chiefs who attended described how the rebate helps recruitment and retention. Chief Evan Haskell said volunteerism is down nationwide and that any incentive helps local departments compete for personnel. BJ Fleisher, chief of Sanger Town Fire Department, asked the board to align district rules with county eligibility (96-hour threshold) to reduce administrative burden and maintain consistent tracking across jurisdictions.

Board members asked about fiscal impact and whether the county or district would process applications for school taxes; Henry said the county has offered to vet the process for Crawford Central and to minimize school administrative burden. Henry estimated county exposure would be modest because many volunteers rent and do not own taxable property. He also described record-keeping requirements (seven years) and an appeals process.

Board members acknowledged the program and said administration would bring the issue back for formal consideration, noting the district may need to reconcile the program with its budget process.