Council Considers Tax Breaks For Emergency Volunteers

By Steve Bigham

Steve Tozser has spent much of his life responding to fires and other emergencies in the Botsford section of town. And at the age of 82, the Town of Newtown may offer him a tax break.

This week, the 44-year veteran of the United Fire Company of Botsford took the news well.

“That’s good news. It’s better than nothing,” he said. “The fireman is always on the call no matter what. He’s always got to go different places and he puts his life on the line.”

Mr Toszer said firemen do not get paid for gas or compensated for lost sleep. It’s all part of the duty of a volunteer firefighter, and as a special thanks from the town, many of them may be receiving as much as $1,000 in tax savings.

The Legislative Council is slated to decide on whether to give out tax abatements to volunteer firefighters and EMS personnel sometime this spring. If approved, the new ordinance is expected to go into effect in time for this year’s tax bills. It would abate property taxes by as much as $1,000 a year.

Somewhere between 80-100 volunteers would be eligible for the plan, which would cost the town approximately $115,000 in lost revenue. But as town officials point out, it is a small price to pay the men and women who volunteer their own time to help others.

The recommended amount of abatement is calculated on a volunteer’s length of service, beginning with $200 after three years of service to the maximum of $1,000 after seven years. Eligibility requirements include holding certain positions within the various volunteer companies, responding to a minimum of 25 calls per year, and being a taxpayer in good standing with the fire departments and ambulance corps.

Last year, the Board of Selectmen officially created the Emergency Volunteer Tax Incentive Committee to study the plan. The committee’s charge was straightforward, since a newly passed state statute already states that towns can now grant fire and EMS volunteers up to $1,000 a year off their property taxes. The committee studied the total number of volunteers who would be eligible for tax savings, and how much it will cost the town in lost revenue.

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,” said John Basso, a member of the committee.

The Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps continues to be the busiest volunteer service in the area as are the town’s five fire companies.

Four 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.

Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire Company Chief Bill 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.

There are currently about 60 members of the Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps and more than 200 in the town’s five volunteer fire companies.