A newly proposed constitutional amendment in New Jersey would authorize municipalities to provide a property tax credit to volunteer firefighters or volunteer first aid squad members, including Hatzolah members, of up to 100% for their primary residence.
According to the proposed amendment, the governing body of a municipality, by ordinance, may provide a property tax credit of up to 100% against the property taxes assessed and levied on the primary residence of an active member of a volunteer fire company or volunteer first aid squad that serves the municipality where the residence is located.
To qualify for the credit, the volunteer is required to be an active member of a fire company or first aid squad that serves the municipality where the primary residence is located.
According to the bill’s sponsor, the credit is being offered as a way to encourage more residents to volunteer as first responders and to “acknowledge those who currently put their lives on the line to ensure the safety of our communities each and every day.”
If approved by the Legislature, the proposed amendment would then need to be approved by the residents of the state in the form of a ballot question.
What is the minimum amount of volunteer hours weekly/annually to qualify?
For the fire Department there is one company monthly meeting, one monthly drill, a quarterly dept meeting and a quarterly drill. You also need to make 60% of calls to be in good standing. The academy is about six months. You need to go through a background check and by physically fit.
Upon learning of the proposed amendment, one Lakewood firefighter told reporters on Tuesday: “It makes perfect sense to me. We put our lives on the line to make sure Lakewood residents are safe and that their properties remain intact and are not consumed by fire. At the very least, our acts of bravery should be reciprocated in the same way, by making sure these blazing and blistering property taxes do not consume us, our properties and our property ownership in one fell swoop.”
So no more more taxes in Lakewood!
This will never get approved. If you’re paying $20,000 in property tax all one needs to do is become a volunteer and save twenty grand.
They also need to be in good standing and make a large percentage of calls
And just like that everyone in Lakewood will be a Hatzala Volunteer.
Nice incentive! All interested parties may now be able to afford to buy a larger primary residences. They just need to be sure that their Mcmansion doesn’t require its own zip code! Lol
Uh no, use the millions that we all pay in property taxes to HIRE more firefighters.
Isn’t a “volunteer” someone who works for free?
If they don’t pay tax, that’s their payment. So let’s just pay firefighters and first-aid responders.
It’s an incentive to keep them as there are less and less volunteers. The alternative is to hire more firefighters will cost you 3x in taxes.
Great for large communities. What about those small affluent communities where most of their volunteers live in nearby blue collar towns. Like the idea but the funds should be related by the state so if you’re a active firefighter or emt anywhere in the state your eligable
How about seniors!!!
Wow. Now getting on Hatzala will really require protectsya