The Town of Bristol is considering a new tactic to recruit and retain volunteer firefighters and rescuers — lower their taxes.
The Bristol Town Council will hold a public hearing later this month to consider a new section of town code that would grant tiered tax abatements for volunteer firefighters and emergency responders. Tax reductions would range from $700 to $2,500 per year for eligible volunteers, with exact amounts determined by a combination of factors, including years of service, certifications, training and call volume.
The abatements would apply to property taxes (if the volunteer owns property in Bristol) or motor vehicle excise taxes (if the volunteer does not own property but owns a car in Bristol). If a volunteer owns no property in Bristol, or lives out of town, he or she could be eligible for a cash stipend of up to $700 annually.