AGENDA ITEM INFORMATION
COMMITTEE: Finance Committee
ITEM: RESOLUTION - ADOPTION OF CRITERIA FOR THE REAL ESTATE TAX CREDIT FOR FIREFIGHTER/AMBULANCE VOLUNTEERS
Consider for adoption a resolution establishing the 2020 criteria for the Real Estate Tax Credit for volunteer firefighters or volunteer emergency medical service personnel to qualify for the rebate of 2019 Township taxes.
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, on November 15, 2017, the Board of Commissioners of the Township of Lower Merion adopted Ordinance No. 4123 amending the Code of the Township of Lower Merion, Chapter 78, Fire Prevention, by the addition of a new Article VI, Volunteer Service Credit Program, enacting Real Estate Tax Credits for volunteer members of volunteer fire companies comprising the Lower Merion Fire Department and for volunteer members of Narberth Ambulance; and establishing administrative procedures and appeals; and
WHEREAS, the provisions of Chapter 78, Article VI, require that the Board of Commissioners establish, by Resolution, the annual criteria that must be met to qualify for credits under the program.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Commissioners of the Township of Lower Merion that the following criteria for 2020 are established for the purpose of implementing the Volunteer Service Credit Program for 2019 Township taxes:
2020 LOWER MERION FIRE DEPARTMENT CRITERIA
1) Firefighter must be certified to the Firefighter I level;
2) The following is a list of activity points which are to be adhered to by all companies of the Lower Merion Fire Department when entering points into the Fire Department database for the purpose of applying for the Volunteer Service Tax Credit. A total of 115 points must be accumulated in order to meet the criteria:
|
Activity
|
Point
|
Purpose
|
|
Standard fire call response
|
1
|
Standard credit.
|
(Firefighter must earn at least 75 of these points)
|
|
Meetings
|
1
|
Standard credit.
|
|
Training drills
|
2
|
Extra point due to time commitment and to encourage training.
|
|
Working fire incident/response in Lower Merion Township
|
2
|
Extra points due to prolonged in-service time.
|
|
Working fire incident/response assist in Lower Merion Township
|
2
|
Extra points due to prolonged in-service time.
|
|
Working fire incident/response outside of Lower Merion Township.
|
2
|
Extra points due to prolonged in-service time.
|
|
Committee Meetings
|
1
|
Provide incentive for firefighters to participate in extra functions to support the mission of the fire company.
|
|
4-hours of in-station duty time
|
1
|
Incentive to increase staffing levels of first out responding apparatus in order to help reduce response times.
|
|
4-hours of training for which a certificate will be issued.
|
1
|
Encourage formal training to improve effectiveness and safety
|
|
1-point per year of active duty
|
1
|
Extra points for years of service.
|
|
Other points may be awarded as deemed appropriate by the Fire Company Chief and approved by the Chief Fire Officer.
|
2020 NARBERTH AMBULANCE CRITERIA
The following is a list of activity points which are to be adhered to by Narberth Ambulance when entering points into the Fire Department database for the purpose of applying for the Volunteer Service Tax Credit. A total of 115 points must be accumulated in order to meet the criteria:
|
Activity
|
Point
|
Purpose
|
|
Staff 6-hour shift
|
4
|
To provide incentive to increase on duty response.
|
|
Standby/PR events
|
4
|
To provide incentive to increase community presence.
|
|
Meetings/Outreach programs
|
2
|
Extra points for completion of Operational or administrative tasks.
|
|
1-point per year of active duty
|
1
|
Extra points for years of service.
|
|
Other points may be awarded as deemed appropriate by the Ambulance Corps Company Chief and approved by the Chief Fire Officer.
|
|