By SUZANNE DOWNING
March 12, 2026 – A bill moving through the Alaska Legislature would give municipalities flexibility in providing property tax relief to volunteer firefighters and emergency medical responders.
House Bill 286, sponsored by Rep. Bill Elam, proposes changes to Alaska statute governing optional municipal property tax exemptions for volunteer firefighters and volunteer providers of emergency medical or mobile intensive care paramedic services. It is in House Community and Regional Affairs for a hearing Thursday.
Under current law, municipalities may exempt up to $10,000 of assessed value on the primary residence of a qualifying volunteer firefighter or emergency medical responder. The existing cap limits how much property tax relief local governments can offer.
House Bill 286 would remove that fixed dollar limitation from state statute. Instead, municipalities would be allowed to determine the amount of a property tax exemption through local ordinance, enabling communities to set the exemption level based on their own needs and fiscal circumstances.
The change is intended to give local governments another practical tool to support communities that rely heavily on volunteer emergency responders.
Many Alaska communities, particularly smaller towns and rural areas, depend on volunteer firefighters and emergency medical personnel to provide essential public safety services. Some municipalities have reported ongoing challenges recruiting and retaining enough trained responders.
By allowing local governments to set a property tax exemption at a level they determine appropriate, the bill could give communities a new incentive to attract and retain volunteers.
The legislation doesn’t require such exemptions, but expands local discretion, allowing each community to decide whether to implement a property tax exemption and how large it should be.
3 thoughts on “Bill would give Alaska municipalities more flexibility to reward volunteer firefighters, EMS responders”
Let me guess who will cover the shortage after Fire/EMT employees get their tax credit. Alaska is not a state that thinks forward under its current community leaders. Just because they get their tax break doesn’t mean the municipality comes up short. They’ll increase another group’s tax to cover the shortage.
today’s Alaska Republicans leaders are just as much of a government dependent and crooked as an Alaskan Democrat
Thanks for nothing Rep Elam
In the Kenai Peninsula Borough qualified, trained, and active firefighters and EMT’s are eligible for a $10,000 property exemption.
In appreciation of the commitment and untold hours of volunteered time they get less than $70 of compensation.
85% of the firefighters on the Kenai are volunteer.
We are all here to help those in need.
We won’t question it, we will just help as much as needed.
We are professionally trained and equipped.
We don’t do it for the money.
We can all judge the value.
Make your own decision.
None of my department is after the $70.
We will answer the call.
Karl Van Buskirk
Lowell Point Volunteer Fire Department