Tax Relief for Active Volunteer First Responders

At a Public Hearing on Tuesday the Town Board considered changes to a local law that will reduce the number of years a volunteer first responder is required to actively serve a volunteer emergency response agency (from 5 years to 2 years) to receive a 10% reduction on their Bedford property assessment which, in turn, reduces one’s property taxes. The benefit will also extend to “lifetime members” who have served 20+ years as active members and to their un-remarried surviving spouse.

Representatives from local firehouses and from the Katonah-Bedford Volunteer Ambulance Corps spoke in support of the proposed changes. They explained that volunteerism is waning right now when it comes to recruiting and retaining First Responders, and this law will hopefully encourage people to sign up for this vital, challenging and rewarding work.