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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRCRC - RCRC Urges Member Counties to Support Bill for Volunteer Firefighters Menchaca, Clarissa From: Bennett, Robin Sent: Thursday, March 22, 2018 2:21 PM To: McCracken, Shari Cc: Menchaca, Clarissa;Teeter, Doug Subject: Request for action FW: RCRC Urges Member Counties to Support Bill for Volunteer Firefighters (Template Letter) Attachments: AB-2727-Ltr-to-Auth-TEMPLATE.docx Please see the email below and template support letter attached. Thank you, Ro&t &zaett, (530) 872-6304 i,beiiiieit,(&,bi.ittecotitiy nei Ilulle CountY Supervisors 01,fice NUPN'Visor J)oti- (?titer. Board (rI'Superulsors, IhIstrt'cl I) 747 1�71iou Road I'aradise. CA 95969 From: Maggie Chui<MChui@,rcrcnet.org> Sent:Thursday, March 22, 2018 1:07 PM To: Maggie Chui <MChui@rcrcnet.org> Cc: Mary Pitt© <mpitto@rcrcnet.org> Subject: RCRC Urges Member Counties to Support Bill for Volunteer Firefighters (Template Letter) Supervisors: As you may know, RCRC is sponsoring Assembly Bill 2727 by Assembly Member Heath Flora (R — Stanislaus). AB 2727 provides a tax credit to volunteer firefighters for 80 percent of qualified expenses incurred during the taxable year, up to $1,500. Often times, volunteer firefighters spend monies out of: their own pocket for their safety equipment and training they are required to have. Due to the costs associated with required firefighter training, fire equipment needs, it is becoming more difficult for these volunteers to continue their service and to recruit new volunteer firefighters to provide an adequate level-of-service in rural areas. We encourage individual member counties to support AB 2727 (template letter attached). RCRC's, AB 2727 can be accessed here. AB 2727 is scheduled to be heard in the Assembly Revenue & Taxation Committee on Monday, April 2, 2018 at 2:30 pm. Maggie Chui Governmental Affairs Coordinator Rural County Representatives of California: (RCRC) 1215 K Street,Suite 1650 Sacramento, CA 95814 Phone; (916)447-4806 mchui@rcrcnet.o[g MCI:" rpol Subscribe to The Barbed Wire 2 March 20, 2018 The Honorable Heath Flora Member, California State Assembly State Capitol, Room 3098 Sacramento, CA 95814 RE: Assembly Bill 2727 - SUPPORT Dear Assembly Member Flora: The Board of Supervisors of XXXX County offer our support for your Assembly Bill 2727, which provides a personal income tax credit for costs incurred for training and equipment by qualified firefighters. XXXX County has XX rural fire districts, mostly comprised of volunteer firefighters. Rural fire districts rely heavily upon the volunteer services of members from their communities to provide a critical public service, responding to structure fires and emergency response calls. In addition, these firefighters are often on the first line of defense, along with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, on the devastating wildland fires in their own communities. In some parts of rural California, volunteer firefighters are the only local fire department. Over the years, the training requirements and equipment for volunteer (and paid personnel) have increased in time and expense. While the fire districts generally provide the minimum training and safety equipment, often these individuals are not reimbursed for travel to the required training and incur expenses on additional training or higher quality safety equipment. It has become increasingly difficult for the rural fire districts to recruit and retain volunteer firefighters. AB 2727 would provide a personal income tax credit up to 80 percent of the amount incurred by qualified firefighters, not to exceed $1,500 a year. This is a small recognition that these individuals that put their lives on the line to protect the lives and properties of others within their community deserve to have some of their self-paid costs mitigated with a tax credit. For these reasons, XXXX County supports AB 2727. If you should have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact XXXX at (xxx) xxx-xxxx. Sincerely, XXXX