Council approves volunteer firefighter tax credit

By Rob Vogt

In an effort to recruit and retain volunteer firefighters, Claresholm town council has given a property tax credit to eligible volunteer firefighters.
At its May 26 meeting, council agreed to apply a credit to the municipal portion of the 2025 taxes, as per the town’s volunteer firefighter tax credit policy, after a presentation by Jennifer Place, the town’s director of corporate services.
She explained that in November, council passed the volunteer firefighter tax credit policy.
This policy offers a tax credit incentive on the municipal portion only of the annual property tax notices for Claresholm firefighters.
The intent of the policy is to not only recognize the time and commitment required to be a volunteer on the fire department, but to also aid in the recruitment and retention of firefighters.
The 2025 tax and assessment notices were issued on May 14, and in accordance with the policy a tax credit of up to $1,000, to the municipal portion of the taxes only, not exceeding 75 percent of the municipal tax, is available to firefighters who are active and in good standing with the Claresholm Fire Department.
The firefighters must also own their home in the Town of Claresholm, and it must be their primary place of residence.
Any cancellation or refund of taxes is at the discretion of council and can only be done by council motion.
A total of 12 firefighters had a total of $10,250 in municipal taxes cancelled, with eight out of 12 receiving the maximum allowable amount of $1,000.