Lower Burrell firefighters turn down tax credit

Lower Burrell Council will not offer a state-approved tax credit to the city’s volunteer firefighters.

Councilwoman Brandy Grieff, director of public safety, said it was a choice made by the firefighters themselves.

She said she contacted officials for Lower Burrell Fire Company No. 1 (Kinloch) and Lower Burrell Fire Company No. 3 (Bon Air) after reading a news story about Arnold Councilman George Hawdon proposing to institute the tax credit there.

Since there are many firefighters across the Valley who live in one community but volunteer for the fire service in a neighboring community, several firefighters in Arnold suggested getting Lower Burrell and New Kensington councils to reciprocate in offering the credit.

Under Act 172 of 2016, the Legislature allows municipalities to enact a tax credit of either 100% of the real estate tax on a primary residence or a percentage of a volunteer’s earned income tax. The move came as a way to curb the decline in the number of volunteer firefighters and help encourage prospective volunteers.

“We are not going to move forward with the tax credit for the firefighters,” Grieff said.

She said the Lower Burrell fire companies each held separate votes of their members on whether to seek the credit. Both groups turned it down, saying their members do not volunteer for personal reward, but to serve the community.

Instead, the fire chiefs, Ted Hereda of No. 1 and Brennan Sites of No. 3, in letters sent to council, asked council to consider increasing budget allocations to the fire companies to help finance operations and equipment purchases when work on the 2024 budget begins in the fall.

“They didn’t coordinate any of this,” Grieff said of the votes.

“I applaud what they (Arnold) are trying to do, but, as far as my firefighters, they didn’t want it,” she said. “I’m open to anything; it’s what my firefighters want to do.”

Hawdon said he had not actually reached out to the other two cities on the issue because Arnold, itself, has yet to make a final decision on the tax credit. He said council will hold a public hearing on the proposal May 9 at 6 p.m. and hold a final vote in June.

“I never second guess another council’s decision, or that of their fire department, if that’s what they want to do,” Hawdon said.

But he said in making their decision, the Lower Burrell firefighters conflated the needs of the individual with the needs of the department.

Hawdon said the tax credit is meant to be more of a gesture of appreciation than a form of payment. He noted that volunteer firefighters across the state for decades have stepped up because they want to serve their communities and would continue to do so if the tax credit didn’t exist.

“It’s about the commitment, how much time and effort they are willing to put into it,” Hawdon said. “If it’s available, I think they deserve it.”