When a call for help goes out in the middle of the night, volunteers answer…
They leave their beds, their families, and whatever comfort they have in that moment to respond to strangers in need. They do it without a paycheck, without recognition, and often without enough support from the very state that depends on them.
That reality was on full display during RecruitNY Weekend, when fire and EMS departments across New York opened their doors in a bid to attract new members. The message was clear: the system works—but only as long as people continue to step up. And fewer are doing so.
In communities like Mastic, volunteers respond to more than 1,000 calls a year. They undergo months of training, earn certifications, and continue to refine their skills annually. This is not casual service. It is a serious, demanding commitment that requires discipline, sacrifice, and courage.
Yet at the very moment when recruitment and retention are becoming more difficult, Albany sent a discouraging message. Democrats rejected a modest proposal to provide a $2,500 state income tax credit to volunteer firefighters and EMS personnel—a small gesture of appreciation for the enormous value they provide.
Let’s be clear about that value.
Across Long Island and much of upstate New York, the vast majority of emergency calls are handled by volunteers. If those volunteers disappear, they must be replaced by full-time, paid staff. That is not a theoretical concern—it is a mathematical certainty. And the cost of that shift would be staggering.
Local property taxes would skyrocket.
Departments would need to hire, train, and maintain full-time crews, purchase additional equipment, and fund benefits and pensions. The financial burden would fall squarely on taxpayers—many of whom are already struggling to keep up with rising costs.
The rejected tax credit was not about compensation. It was about recognition and retention. It was about acknowledging that these men and women are saving taxpayers millions of dollars while protecting their communities.
Instead, the state chose to do nothing.
At a recent gathering of the New York State Fire Service Alliance, leaders outlined practical steps to strengthen the system—from better tax incentives to enhanced training and mental health support. These are not extravagant demands. They are common-sense measures aimed at preserving a model that has served New York well for generations.
The volunteer emergency services community is one of the last great examples of civic responsibility in action. It deserves more than applause. It deserves support.
Because if those middle-of-the-night calls ever go unanswered, the cost—financial and human—will be far greater than any tax credit Albany refused to approve.