McCandless council has approved a list of residents belonging to its three volunteer fire departments who are eligible to receive a $500 credit next year on the earned income tax they pay to the town.

Council also is considering extending the tax credit program it established in 2017 to emergency personnel who live in McCandless but volunteer with fire departments outside the town.

Council on Dec. 14 approved a list of firefighters with the Highland, Ingomar and Peebles District volunteer fire companies who meet the requirements for receiving a credit on the 1% tax residents pay to the town on their earned income.

If the amount of earned income tax a volunteer has to pay is less than $500, the credit will cover their entire tax liability, according to the ordinance.

“This credit is one way our town can thank the volunteers for the time and effort they put into protecting our community,” said manager Bob Grimm. “The credit is part of our overall support of the volunteers. Their dedication to this service is very much appreciated.”

Council president Kim Zachary said the credit is aimed at helping the most dedicated members of the volunteer departments.

The requirements to qualify for the credit “are stringent,” she said. “You can’t just say I’m a volunteer firefighter and never show up.”

The town’s fire chiefs are required to provide council with a notarized list of volunteers who are eligible. The criteria for receiving the credit includes:

• The number of emergency response calls to which a volunteer responds.

• The volunteer’s level of training and participation in formal training and drills.

• The amount of time a volunteer spends on fundraising, maintaining the equipment and buildings and bookkeeping.

• Their involvement in other events or projects that support the fire company.

• The number of years a volunteer has served.

Of the approximately 130 firefighters serving in the town’s three departments, 63 are eligible for the tax credit.

Council also conducted a public hearing Dec. 14 about its proposal to extend the program to residents who are volunteers with fire companies outside the municipality.

No residents commented about the proposed ordinance during Monday’s hearing, which was conducted online because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Councilwoman Carolyn Schweiger inquired whether the town should consider creating a tax credit for retirees who belong to a fire company but do not have an income from earnings.

“We’d have to look at that in the future,” Zachary said, noting that council cannot change a proposal during a public hearing. “We could bring it up and see about adding that.”

Shaler Township recently announced that it will offer volunteer firefighters who are retirees a $300 credit on their property taxes.

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