Study: Volunteer firefighters save NY taxpayers $4.7B a year, including millions in Rockland
Rockland volunteer firefighters respond to fires and other emergencies 24 hours a day, seven days a week at all hours. They enter burning buildings and respond in all types of weather: freezing cold, oppressive heat, rain and snow.
They don't get paid or receive many benefits for their public service.
Rockland's estimated 1,900 active firefighters are part of an 80,000 force of volunteers across New York state that saves taxpayers an estimated $4.7 billion annually, according to an economic study released by the Firefighters Association of the State of New York, known as FASNY.
Outside of paid firefighters in cities and urban areas, volunteer firefighters make up nearly 93% of the fire responders who protect life and property across the state, according to FASNY. Rockland volunteers answer an estimated 9,000 calls a year.
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“This report underscores the importance and value of the volunteer firefighting service to New York,” FASNY President Edward Tase Jr. said. “Without the dedication and service of the brave volunteers throughout the state, local taxpayers would face a significant financial burden to fund the type of emergency response they are accustomed to."
Rockland's volunteers save taxpayers
In Rockland, the volunteer firefighters save taxpayers an estimated $50 to $60 million annually, Rockland Fire and Emergency Services Coordinator Chris Kear said, adding that too many variables are involved with a paid department to determine an exact figure without a detailed study.
Kear said a paid department could take several forms, depending on how the county structured the firehouses and administration. Volunteer departments have been a Rockland tradition for more than a century.
"I know the cost would be huge to taxpayers, especially when considering the minimal costs they pay for well-trained firefighters now," Kear said. "A lot goes into creating a fire department."
Although the Rockland service hasn't done a detailed study in years, Kear projected a paid Rockland department could require 550 to 600 firefighters.
Depending on the department's design, he projected, eight firefighters per 24-hour shift or 32 firefighters per firehouse. The number of firehouses would depend on the plan.
Kear said a paid department also would need a hierarchy from a top administration with chiefs, assistant chiefs, captains, lieutenants and training officers.
"You are looking at a salary for a firefighter with benefits at $85,000, and that could be a little low," Kear said. "We're talking a big ballpark. And that doesn't include other costs such as overtime or compensation for firefighters injured or sick."
Kear noted there are non-employee costs — training, testing, equipment, firehouse and truck maintenance, water, electricity, administrative personnel, medical issues, insurance, raises, civil service issues and unions, among other issues and costs.
A fire department also could include the costs of Emergency Medical Services with ambulances, paramedics and EMTs, Kear said. Now, many ambulance corps depends on volunteers with some paid personnel. Paramedics are paid and contracted with governments.
FASNY, formed in 1872, advocates for volunteer firefighters and emergency medical personnel.
The FASNY-released economic impact study focuses on the role of volunteer firefighters in safeguarding communities and saving lives. Volunteers also are enlisted for emergencies across the state — massive flooding and snowstorms.
Resolution Economics, known as ResEcon, researched the just released 50-page “Economic Study of The Tax Savings Generated by New York’s Volunteer Fire Service.” The study marked the second one in the past decade to examine the economic impact of New York's volunteer firefighters, FASNY said in a statement.
New York state relies heavily on volunteer fire departments, and a conversion to paid departments would cause a severe economic burden and require a massive increase in property taxes, the study said.
Report's findings
Among the report's findings:
Fully paid career departments would cost New York taxpayers $4.7 billion annually in pay, benefits, operating, maintenance, and capital costs.
31,058 full-time paid firefighters would need to be hired.
Of New York state’s 1,640 fire departments, 93.2% are all-volunteer or mostly volunteers.
The study also considered a switch to an all-paid fire service:
Local government property taxes would rise an average of28.4% absent volunteer firefighters.
Taxes would increase between 5.8% and 133.8%, depending on the county.
There would be a one-time cost of $8.17 billion to acquire existing structures, vehicles and equipment.
State advocates for towns and villages praised volunteer fire companies, and the cost-savings, and said more state assistance was needed.
“Not only do volunteer firefighters save lives and protect property, but they also save millions of dollars of taxpayer money that can be put to use serving their communities in countless other capacities," New York State Association of Counties President Michael E. Zurlo said.
Zurlo said the report highlights the need for the state to invest in the volunteer fire community to ensure New Yorkers have access to reliable and effective fire service.
Gerry Geist, executive director of the Association of Towns. said the associations are looking forward to working with legislators and officials to create local and state-funded programs and incentives to support volunteer emergency service providers.
FASNY's plans also include pressing the state Legislature and governor to release funds designated for local governments to hire and train code enforcers; increasing the penalties for fire and safety code violations; and adopting a sales tax holiday for every October to encourage people to buy smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
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Kear, a longtime Hillcrest volunteer firefighter, inspector, and retired Connecticut firefighter, said incentives play a role in recruiting and retaining volunteers.
He noted Gov. Kathy Hochul recently signed into law a maximum 10% property tax write-off for volunteers if a municipality offers it. Volunteer firefighters diagnosed with certain cancers are eligible for health care benefits under a 2017 state law approved by Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
Kear said Hochel is considering a stipend for volunteer firefighters, among other incentives. He said workman's compensation benefits for injured firefighters are minimal.
Kear said the number of Rockland volunteers has been dwindling over the years but many departments remain strong. The county's mutual aid system tries to ensure enough firefighters respond to fires and emergencies.
He said a paid fire department is not on the horizon and won't be necessary if the county continues to get volunteers.
The Rockland Fire Training Center, backed by the county government, offers tuition reimbursement at Rockland Community College for those who are volunteer firefighters. He said the county is looking to improve training, modernize the training center, and make classes more up-to-date to meet today's standards.
"We must do better as volunteer departments," Kear said. "We have well-trained and very experienced individuals. We have to use every resource to recruit and retain members before we consider going paid."
Steve Lieberman covers government, breaking news, courts, police, and investigations. Reach him at slieberm@lohud.com. Twitter: @lohudlegal.
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This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Volunteer firefighters in New York save billions, study says
