Volunteer firefighters in Grove City will soon see their service rewarded in a new way.

Grove City Borough Council voted Monday night to approve Ordinance 1504, allowing qualifying members of the Grove City Volunteer Fire Department to receive borough property tax rebates based on how much time they dedicate to the department — including emergency calls, training sessions, and even health monitoring.

The ordinance follows a 2016 Pennsylvania law that gave municipalities the option to offer these kinds of incentives to their local emergency responders.

“This is incredible to me,” said Jared Hoffman, a second ward councilman and second assistant chief of the fire department. “I feel this is groundbreaking for the area. I hope that this continues to move as fast as the fires that we fight around in the surrounding communities.”

Hoffman also pointed out that Pennsylvania has seen a steep decline in volunteer firefighters over the years. “In 1970, there were roughly 300,000 volunteers in the state. That number has dropped to about 38,000,” Hoffman said. “And 90% of Pennsylvania’s fire departments — about 2,400 total — are still volunteer.”

Under the ordinance, volunteers will be placed on a point-based system, where they can earn up to a 100% rebate on their borough property taxes depending on their level of service. Points will be tracked using software to ensure accurate records.

Borough manager Vance Oakes said the move is not only a show of gratitude, but a practical step toward keeping volunteers engaged and potentially bringing new ones in.

“Our volunteer firefighters deserve recognition for what they do for our community,” Oakes said. “They give of their time freely to protect our community, and they’re often overlooked. We’re hopeful this benefit will be an incentive for increased participation.”

The ordinance could soon expand beyond Grove City. Fire departments in Pine Township and Springfield Township are currently working with Grove City to explore similar policies for their municipalities.

“This isn’t just about today — it’s about building for the future,” Hoffman said.