SOUTH RIVER — Some local politicians are asking that volunteers get credit where credit is due.
Assemblywoman Barbara Buono (D-18th) and Assemblyman Peter Barnes (D-18th) have introduced a legislative bill that will give tax credit to businesses which support community emergency personnel.
Under the provision, which was described at a press conference last Wednesday at the War Memorial Building, Main Street, the tax credit would be given to businesses who allow employees paid time off to actively respond to emergency calls during normal business hours.
The bill would cover firefighters, volunteer first aid squad members and rescue squad members, as well as emergency police or emergency management unit employees.
"In communities like my hometown and others across New Jersey, levels of volunteers for the first aid and rescue squad are decreasing to a point where members are stretched thin in answering calls and performing duties requested of them," said Buono.
Under the bill, each business would be entitled to a deduction based on the number of emergency service employees. The deduction would be calculated as one-half the minimum hourly wage ($5.15 times the number of hours on active duty) plus the number of ancillary duty or training hours per taxable year.
"Emergency services personnel are volunteering in a world where it is increasingly more difficult to perform necessary tasks," said Barnes. "We need to encourage businesses to employ dedicated workers in both the business environment and community."
On Oct. 30, Barnes and Buono are also planning to introduce a bill that would allocate $500,000 in state funding for the training of municipal and county police, as well as volunteer and paid firefighters, to properly operate defibrillators.
Buono said, with fire and police personnel usually the first at a scene, it has become increasingly important for them to be trained to save victims of cardiac arrest.
Currently, the state only pays for emergency medical technicians to be trained on defibrillators.
This summer, the borough was among 10 towns to receive defibrillators paid for by the state.
"The defibrillators are only as effective as those professionals who are trained with them," said Barnes.

