Editorial: Encouraging Volunteer Recruitment

In June, the New York State Senate passed the Emergency Services Volunteer Act. This bill would increase income tax credits for volunteers with more than four years of service an additional $400 (in addition to the current $200).

This incentive act would also exempt motor vehicles owned and used in the performance of duty by an emergency services volunteer from motor vehicle registration fees and vehicle use taxes; authorize local volunteer fire and ambulance companies to use state-administered funds, collected annually through a two-percent fire insurance premium tax on out-of-state insurers to help offset the cost of health insurance for their members; increase the number of qualified candidates from one to three that volunteer companies can submit for participation in New York\'s Volunteer Recruitment Service Scholarships program; and direct the state Higher Education Services Corporation to create a volunteer recruitment service college loan forgiveness program.

This measure was passed unanimously in the Senate; now it must be approved by the New York State Assembly. We think such incentives are a good idea, but the amount of the income tax credits should be higher, given the cost of gas these days. When the price of gas rises to $5.00 a gallon, responding to a fire can become a costly business.

We should remember that the Firemen's Association of the State of New York (FASNY) estimates that it would cost local taxpayers more than $5 billion annually to replace volunteers with paid fire and ambulance services. According to FASNY, the number of volunteer firefighters statewide has declined from 140,000 in the early 1990's to fewer than 90,000 today. Some rural counties have experienced as much as a 50 percent depletion of their EMT ranks.

While the importance of local first responders to community safety and security was widely recognized and praised in the aftermath of the September 11th tragedy, it continues to be difficult for many fire departments and ambulance companies to recruit and retain volunteers. There are time-tested measures to recruit new firefighters, such as department sponsorship of Explorers groups, drill team competitions, musters, and parades. Then there are sons and daughters who follow their parents into the fire and emergency service, a long-standing tradition in New York State. Some departments already employ paid, around-the-clock firefighters supported by volunteers. This may be a trend that deserves watching.

One way to increase recruitment and retention of volunteers is the Assembly measure under consideration. Please contact your state assembly representatives and ask them to approve A5186-C, the Assembly bill.