Cities Are Rewarding Volunteers With Property Tax Rebate

Volunteers in several cities are getting rewarded with a property tax rebate in hopes of boosting firefighter teams and incentivizing volunteers.

Both Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, and Plymouth Township, Michigan, have gotten behind the rebates that offer up to 100 percent property tax rebate depending on how involved volunteers are within the community.

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"There's a push to find ways of financially rewarding those in public service careers that are often overworked, underpaid, and, at the same time, highly valued and in-demand," Alex Beene, financial literacy instructor at the University of Tennessee at Martin, told Newsweek.

Pennsylvania's Rebate

Norristown, Pennsylvania, was one of the first cities to adopt a program like this with its volunteer emergency responder property tax rebate. It applies to all active volunteers in fire companies and nonprofit EMS organizations.

Under the program's points-based system, the specific rebate amount will vary based on how often the volunteer works as well as their training and leadership role within the organization.

Those who respond to one emergency call can earn two points, with training and certifications adding more to your score. If volunteers make it to 50 points, they'll trigger a 25 percent tax rebate, while those earning 100, 150 and 200 points would earn 50, 75 and 100 percent respectively.

"Today, we proudly became the largest county to provide up to 100% County property tax relief to these critical members of our community," Neil Makhija, Montgomery County Commissioner, told MyChesCo at the time. "Tax relief is a critical tool for us to maintain reliable emergency services for all of our residents and to recognize those serving the public."

There are also added protections for those who risk their lives as volunteer firefighters. If injured on the job, you'd gain the tax rebate for five straight years, per the Pennsylvania program's rules.

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The county is hoping to increase its number of volunteer firefighters with the added incentive as numbers currently remain low.

"Offering up to a full rebate on real estate property taxes is a way to give back to those Montgomery County residents who give their time to protecting our neighborhoods," Thomas DiBello, a Montgomery County Commissioner, said. "It's also a real tangible benefit of becoming a volunteer, and we hope it will inspire people to sign up with their local department."

Eligible volunteers can apply for the rebate from January 1 to December 31 for the 2025 tax year.

Similar Program in Michigan

Plymouth Township also joined in on the volunteer firefighter rebate front with a similar points system. Depending on how many points you acquire, you'll get somewhere between 10 and 100 percent of the prior year's real estate taxes repaid.

"The fire companies record the calls, trainings, and other criteria for the calendar year, then submit a list of those eligible for rebate," Township Manager Karen Weiss told The Times Herald.

The deadline for fire departments to submit the list of volunteers eligible is on February 15, and checks are distributed within 45 days after that.

To meet the program's criteria, you must earn 25 points for the 10 percent tax rebate, while others with 50 or 100 points could get a 25 or 50 percent rebate, respectively. Meanwhile, if you have 150 points, you can expect a 75 percent rebate. Finally, those with 200 points or more would earn a full 100 percent property tax refund.

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Beene said both Plymouth and Montgomery's rebates are unique in how they distribute the relief, offering something that is universally appreciated amid the escalating property taxes seen across the United States.

"It sends the right message," Beene said. "If you devote your career to in-need occupations and volunteering, your local government is going to reward you for that service and encourage others to join in."

As studying for EMS certifications and training to become a firefighter can take up a substantial amount of time and attention, the two programs are set to reward the volunteers who give the most to their local communities.

"Having seen the sense of community and dedication that these volunteers offer up from their personal time, it is fantastic to see that some local governments have looked for ways to reward the dedication that these folks bring," Alan Chang, the founder and president of Vested Title & Escrow, told Newsweek. "While these programs reward based on participation, it is important that the appropriate point systems are accurately tracked to ensure the appropriate level of compensation."