Lower Burrell Council is exploring a local tax incentive for city firefighters to boost their thinning ranks and properly reward their community work.
Councilman Joe Grillo is looking at city firefighters forgoing the city’s earned income tax or other possibilities. A course for young firefighters is also under consideration.
“It’s a great thing to offer firefighters,” Grillo said.
He is not sure exactly what type of tax incentive will be offered as he and the solicitor are reviewing the possibilities before city council takes up the measure.
Act 172 of 2016 gives municipalities the option to offer a real estate or earned income tax credit to active members of volunteer fire companies and nonprofit emergency service agencies.
Each municipality may choose to offer an earned income tax credit, a real estate tax credit, or both, according to the Pennsylvania Governor’s Center for Local Government Services.