Nov 11, 2002 By Steve Ferris 3 min read

Will money from the $100 million bond issue that was approved by nearly 75 percent of Pennsylvanians who voted last week be distributed to the state’s 2,366 volunteer fire departments by grants or low or zero interest loans? That’s the question facing state legislators as they ponder the best way to help local volunteer fire departments across the state.

So far, the question remains unanswered, according to state Rep. Tim Solobay D-Canonsburg, a big supporter of helping volunteer fire departments, and House Majority Leader John Perzel R-Philadelphia’s spokesman Stephen Miskin.

“With the Republicans ruling the roost, they may not tell us anything until it’s ready to go,” Solobay said.

Miskin said Republican leaders will start holding hearings across the state early next year to find out the best way to distribute the money.

He said it’s still unknown if all $100 million, which was approved in the non-binding referendum, or a lesser amount is needed to help volunteer departments and ambulance services buy equipment.

The question of whether to use grants or loans to allocate the money must also be answered, he said.

Legislators also have to decide on the best way to make the money last for multiple years. Miskin said the money could be deposited and its interest used for the fire departments or a revolving fund could he established.

Solobay also said he wants the money to be available to emergency responders annually.

Both men said a one-time $25 million grant fund two years ago did not go far enough to reduce the need for volunteer firefighters to hold fundraisers to buy the trucks and gear the need to protect their own communities.

One certainty, according to Miskin, is that the bond issue will not trigger a tax increase.

“Absolutely, we’re not going to raise taxes for that. That’s the purpose of the bond, you borrow it,” Miskin said. “It becomes part of the state bond (debt) service.”

Solobay was less certain, saying that he “hopes” a tax increase is not needed to repay the bond, noting that he expects the budget to have a deficit when the fiscal year ends.

An assistant chief in the Canonsburg Volunteer Fire Department, Solobay urged voters to support the referendum and encouraged other area volunteer departments to lobby for the measure within their communities.

He said he has also introduced several other bills aimed at helping recruit and retain volunteer firefighters, and provide grants for equipment.

A $45-million Fire and Emergency Services Grant Program would dedicate $37 million for $15,000 grants for volunteer fire companies and $10,000 for ambulance services and rescue squads. It would include $3 million for $50,000 grants for paid fire departments.

The bill would also provide funds for college tuition assistance, pensions and death benefits for volunteers, Solobay said.

He also proposed changing the Foreign Fire Tax proceeds so each department’s relief association would receive at least $10,000.

Currently, the tax money is distributed based on population and the number of insured structures in each department’s service area.

Solobay said his proposals have “embarrassed” the Republic leadership.

Miskin said Solobay is trying to make himself a “fire guru,” but he got the idea from Republicans who have tried for the last two years to introduce a bond issue for volunteer fire companies.

Last year, the governor wouldn’t support the bond issue and budget wouldn’t support it this year, he said, noting that budget reserves will likely be needed to avoid a year-end deficit.