Volunteer as an emergency responder in York County? How to get a 100% property tax refund

Volunteer firefighters and nonprofit emergency medical service providers in York County now can receive up to a 100 percent refund on their county taxes.

The county commissioners on Wednesday amended a motion that increased the tax refund for active volunteer firefighters and nonprofit emergency medical service providers. The rebate had been 50 percent.

Fire companies have struggled over the years to recruit and maintain volunteers, and they have been offering incentives to draw people in.

The county's program provides property tax relief to individuals who are active volunteers and those who are unable to serve because they were injured in the line of duty, a news release states.

The hope is the program will encourage people to get involved and reward those who give back to their community, the release states.

Emergency call highlights how entire fire company team contributes

Shrewsbury Fire Chief Brad Dauberman shared a story at the commissioners meeting about a more than 70-year-old woman who emergency responders helped in 2022. She suffered serious injuries, including a hip broken in four places and 10 busted ribs, after she somehow ended up underneath a Kubota tractor with it sitting on her chest. She was flown by helicopter to a hospital after firefighters got her out.

Dauberman said he thought, based on his experience, that she would become a coroner's case. When he spoke with the woman in November, she had made a 100 percent recovery.

Every member of the fire company team contributed, Dauberman said. It takes fundraising, training on expensive tools and even mowing the grass so that charity events can be held.

It's huge to have a tax refund program to reward and motivate current members and encourage new residents to get involved, he said.

"I believe this is the gold standard program that we're going to see emulated around the state," Dauberman said.

Municipal tax base would be astronomical without volunteers

Chad Deardorff, president of the Fire Chiefs and Firefighters Association of York County, thanked the commissioners for the increase. The initial tax refund resolution in 2022 was a success, he said.

He told officials they have seen the importance of volunteers

"Without them, the tax base would be astronomical for every municipality ... within the county and within the state," he said.

All three commissioners support the tax relief program, according to a news release.

“I am proud to have worked with our local fire chiefs to develop this tax relief program that will provide a significant incentive to support those who risk their lives every day for our community," President Commissioner Julie Wheeler said in the release. "The action we took today will move the needle on strengthening our local fire services across the County. York County is safer with a robust base of volunteers and this program is designed to do just that.”

How to apply for a York County tax refund

For more information on the program or how to apply for a tax refund, visit https://yorkcountypa.gov/Volunteer-Emergency-Services-Tax-Refund-Program.

This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: Volunteer firefighters can get a 100% tax refund in York County, PA