The Swatara Township budget for 2019 will increase money for fire safety that would be used to improve a volunteer firefighters incentive program.
"It's a simple thank you for everything that they're doing," said Chief Mike Ibberson, Swatara Township Fire Rescue.
It's a way to give back to volunteer firefighters. The 2019 budgets for Swatara Township allocates $100,000 toward the volunteer firefighter incentive program, up from $30,000 in the current program.
Swatara Township Board of Commissioners President Tom Connolly says the increase is possible with savings in other areas of the budget and will come at no extra cost to the taxpayer.
"I think it's really good for public safety by having a volunteer fire department, they save taxpayers a lot of money as opposed to a paid fire service," said Connolly. "So it's the least we can do to put this incentive program in place to repay them for the time away from their families and the time they provide to Swatara Township."