North Penn board holds hearing on proposed volunteer first-responder property tax credit

The North Penn School District held a public hearing on Jan. 7 to gather a record and public comment on a proposed property tax rebate for volunteer first responders; no board vote was taken at the work session.

Solicitor Kyle Summers opened the hearing and said the draft resolution and public notice had been entered into the record and that the hearing had been advertised in the newspaper. "There is no action required by the board tonight," Summers said, calling the proceeding a way to create an informational record for any future vote.

District Chief Financial Officer Mrs. Hower presented the program's mechanics: the rebate would be variable based on a points system (detailed in the draft resolution), and eligible recipients must be North Penn School District residents who own property and who volunteer with qualifying EMS or fire organizations that serve all or part of the district. "Based on 2024's volunteer activity what we think a $700 maximum rebate would look like across our current volunteer base" would total about $110,000, Hower said, adding the board previously discussed targeting roughly $100,000 in the first year.

Hower described the points grid and said department chiefs would certify individual members' points to the district. Board members were told the program would be revisited annually; "this is not like a lifetime commitment," Hower said, noting parameters could be changed in later years.

Solicitor Summers allowed a public comment period specifically for the hearing; no audience members spoke and the hearing was closed. Summers reiterated that any adoption of the resolution would require a future board vote following the required notice period.

What happens next: the draft resolution remains on file with the board's meeting documents as Exhibit B; the record established at the hearing will inform any subsequent vote. Community members were told they may contact the board or administration with feedback before any adoption vote.

Sources: presentation and statements by Kyle Summers (district solicitor) and Mrs. Hower (chief financial officer) at the Jan. 7 hearing; draft resolution and slides attached to the board agenda.