New York State Assemblyman Joseph Agnelino (R, C-Norwich) proposed a bill to help volunteer firefighters with a tax credit, incentivizing others to become firefighters, but it was rejected by the assembly majority this week.
According to WBNG, the bill would have given volunteer firefighters and members of a volunteer ambulance corps a tax credit of $2,500.
New York is dealing with a volunteer firefighter shortage, and Angelino said frustrated with the outcome.
“Our volunteer firefighters and EMS are the backbone of public safety, especially in rural parts of the state,” Agnelino said. “In fact, over 90% of firefighters are volunteers. Over the past couple of years, however, we have seen a dramatic drop in volunteers,” he said.
Agnelino believes that the bill didn't move forward due to his political party assoication and that several majority members come from New York City.
“A lot of the majority members come from New York City, and they just have no experience with the vast size and rural nature of upstate New York,” Agnelino said. “It doesn’t matter how good your bill is; the majority will not allow it to proceed if you have an ‘R’ next to your name. This is petty partisan politics at its worst."
Despite the challenges, Agnelino is still trying to get it through assembly.
“If I can find a majority member who wants to carry this bill and get it passed...I’m trying to help volunteer firefighters...It’s not about me,” he said, “it’s about the fire service, and it’s not just firefighters, it’s also volunteer EMS,” he said.
