WICOMICO COUNTY, MARYLAND – March 22, 2024
In Salisbury, the Wicomico County leaders have approved legislation that allows volunteer fire auxiliary members to receive a property tax credit. However, the deadline to apply for this tax credit is quickly approaching.
The County Council initially adopted a tax credit provision for volunteer fire associations in December, but there were uncertainties regarding whether auxiliary members were also covered by the proposal. This led to a unanimous vote on March 19 by the council to include auxiliary members in the tax credit.
Attorney Bob Benson explained, “Some volunteer fire companies considered auxiliary members as part of their group, while others did not. The purpose of including auxiliary members is to ensure consistency and include them in the group eligible for tax exemptions.”
Finance Director Pam Oland clarified that applications for the tax credit must be submitted by volunteer fire departments, not the volunteers themselves. The deadline for applications is April 1, and as of March 19, only four out of the 11 departments in the county have applied.
Interested auxiliary members must meet the same requirements as volunteer firefighters, including earning a minimum of 50 points annually as per the rules of the Wicomico County Volunteer Firefighters Association. They must also have actively served for at least three years, and only one tax credit is available per dwelling.
Benson mentioned that the original provision set a maximum yearly amount of $750,000 to account for the impact on the county budget. Councilman Joe Holloway noted that there have been inquiries from residents on how to join a volunteer fire department to qualify for the tax credit.
Oland emphasized the need for dedicated service to be eligible for the tax credit and highlighted that the legislation aims to not only retain current firefighters but also serve as a recruitment tool, now extended to auxiliary members as well.
