(The Center Square) – Raising taxes is never popular, but communities across Pennsylvania may soon gain the authority to do so as a way to confront a growing crisis in emergency services.
With fire departments and EMS agencies struggling to stay afloat amid volunteer shortages and chronic underfunding, a law passed last year may offer relief – but some say it doesn’t go far enough.
Act 54, signed into law in July 2024, updated the state’s fiscal code to allow select municipalities to raise property taxes dedicated solely to fire and EMS services. It raised the decades-old caps from 3 mills to 10 for fire, and from 0.5 to 5 mills for EMS. Increases beyond those limits would still require voter approval.
Supporters say the change creates a “lock box” funding mechanism, ensuring tax revenue is used solely for lifesaving services.
The catch, however, is that the law applies only to second-class townships bordering a first-class city. Since Philadelphia is the commonwealth’s sole first-class city, eligibility is limited to communities in Bucks, Delaware and Montgomery counties.
Rep. Chris Pielli, D-West Chester, wants to make the option available to all second-class townships across Pennsylvania.
“Why would you give this benefit to just one region, and not everyone in the Commonwealth?” Pielli told The Center Square.
His legislation, House Bill 393, passed the lower chamber in May with a 120-83 vote – all Democrats and 18 Republicans in favor. It now awaits consideration from the Senate Local Government Committee.
He explained that local municipalities are responsible for funding their fire and EMS services and emphasized the legislation doesn’t require municipalities to raise taxes – it simply gives them the choice. “It’s a tool in the toolchest,” he said.
Pointing to the urgency, Pielli noted that in just the past two years, 49 EMS companies have shut down across Pennsylvania.
Additionally, the number of volunteer firefighters in the state have dropped from 360,000 to fewer than 37,000 since the 1970s.
Volunteer fire departments are typically non-profit organizations as their primary goal is to serve and protect their communities. They rely on a mix of local tax revenue, community donations, and state and federal grants, which according to Pielli, are insufficient to meet their needs.
According to the National Fire Department Registry, of the state’s 1,770 fire departments, nearly 90% are fully volunteer and rely on local tax support or fundraising to survive.
A recent article published by the Fire and EMS Fund states that Act 54 eases funding restrictions for over 1,400 municipalities in approximately 150 boroughs and townships in the three now-eligible counties.
Although only a few municipalities have implemented it so far, the organization says the change marks a significant step in increasing stable, dedicated funding for critical local services.
They say that in places like Northampton Township in Bucks County, which has taken advantage of the provisions in the Act, it will help address persistent underfunding. The previous caps meant that less than one-third of the fire department’s expenses could be covered using tax money.
Pielli noted that the second-class township code has been unchanged for 50 years and hopes the Senate will recognize HB 393 as a “bipartisan, common sense measure” and bring it to a vote.
“This isn’t – or shouldn’t be – a red or blue issue,” Pielli said. This is a safety issue for every Pennsylvanian.”
