Volunteers

Seek Tax Abatement

By Steve Bigham

Local volunteer fire and ambulance personnel are seeking the creation of a new tax abatement program from the town. Their request comes in response to the passage of a new state law that allows towns to grant fire and EMS volunteers up to $1,000 a year off their property taxes.

On Monday, Board of Fire Commissioners Chairman Kevin Cragin, and John Basso, Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps chief, made the request to the Board of Selectmen in person. In response, the selectmen agreed to form an ad hoc committee of emergency volunteers to take a closer look at a tax relief program. The selectman said, Newtown is fortunate to have a group of men and women who devote their time (and occasionally their lives) to help others. As Newtown continues to develop, there is the threat that the population might outgrow its volunteer services.

“The way the town is growing, we need all the help we can get to attract new members and keep the existing members around,” Mr Basso said. “Our call volume is up 18 percent.”

Newtown Ambulance is expected to respond to some 1,500 calls during 1999. The five fire companies will have responded to about 1,200 calls.

“I think it’s an important program to look at,” noted Selectman Joe Bojnowski. “The volunteers spend a lot of time training to be efficient at what they do.”

Of course, some volunteers put in more hours than others and the selectmen believe they should be the ones receiving the most significant benefits. “We need to look at qualifications to make sure each person is deserving. We want them to stay, clearly,” Mr Bojnowski added.

Currently, there are 51 members of the Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps, and more than 200 in the five volunteer fire companies.

“I think it’s a great thing and I hope the town adopts it,” noted Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire Company Chief Bill Halstead. “But the town has to look at pro-rating this for the older guys who have been in 30 to 40 years. They should be eligible for the $1,000 deferral, while the newer guys should have to work for it.”

Two years ago, the town approved a pension plan for volunteers. Under that plan, the town contributes $100,000 per year to a pension fund, on which volunteers can collect after 20 years of service. However, while that program rewards the younger volunteers, it provides little for the older members.

Chief Halstead predicts the tax abatement plan should work well in attracting new volunteers because people can take advantage of the benefit right away. And while this tax abatement could end up costing the town some $150,000 per year in tax revenue, it is still better than the alternative – having to go to a paid service where the bill jumps to $4-5 million.

Newtown emergency volunteers also receive a break on pool and landfill permits.