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Board authorizes drafting of volunteer firefighter tax‑credit ordinance
Summary
Newtown supervisors authorized staff to draft and advertise an ordinance and accompanying resolution establishing a real‑estate tax credit and/or an earned income tax credit for qualifying volunteer firefighters; staff estimates the township cost at about $5,000–$10,000 annually based on roughly 10 eligible volunteers.
The Newtown Township Board of Supervisors voted unanimously April 23 to authorize drafting an ordinance and a resolution to establish a real‑estate tax credit and an earned income tax credit for qualifying volunteer firefighters under an existing state statute.
The solicitor and staff explained the credits would be limited by strict qualifying criteria — including required hours, training and participation — to prevent individuals from signing up only to receive tax relief without contributing service. Staff estimated the township’s annual cost would be approximately $5,000 to $10,000 based on an estimate of about 10 volunteers likely to qualify and suggested local caps (many municipalities cap credits at $500–$1,000 per volunteer).
“I'm satisfied that the impact of the township would be minimal while at the same time being a substantial benefit for an individual,” a supervisor said in support of authorizing the draft. Board members clarified the difference between “tax forgiveness” and a tax credit: the ordinance will establish credits, and the eligibility criteria would be set by resolution accompanying the ordinance.
The board authorized drafting and advertisement of the ordinance and the drafting of a resolution that would define qualifying criteria; members noted the board could review a draft ordinance before formally authorizing advertisement to avoid having to re‑advertise if substantive changes were made.
Next steps: the solicitor will prepare a draft ordinance and resolution for board review; the board will decide whether to advertise the ordinance for public hearing once the draft is finalized.
