Oneida County firefighters: A Whitesboro gathering puts recruitment and equipment needs in focus, while two state proposals face different paths forward.
By Michelle LaGuerre
Oneida County firefighters are seeking more state support as local departments confront the cost of equipping responders and the challenge of recruiting volunteers. At an October 8 gathering at the Whitesboro Fire Department, lawmakers and fire service leaders called attention to proposals intended to help, including a larger volunteer tax credit and a separate police and fire grant program.
The proposals could affect households that volunteer and departments that need resources. But neither should be confused with money already awarded. As of October 12, official legislative records show that the tax-credit bill has passed both chambers, while the grant proposal remains in committee.
The Observer-Dispatch’s report, republished by AOL, identifies participants as Sen. Joseph Griffo, Assemblywoman Marianne Buttenschon, Assemblyman Brian Miller and New York Mills Fire Chief Rick Ulinski. The gathering took place during National Fire Prevention Week.
Why Oneida County firefighters are asking for help
Ulinski, identified in the report as president of the Oneida County Fire Chiefs Association and Oneida County Volunteer Firefighters Association, described the pressure created by rising expenses. He estimated basic outfitting and gear for one firefighter at approximately $4,000.
“We support this legislation,” Ulinski said, “and thank you to anyone willing to help us.”
That figure is his estimate reported by the newspaper, not a statewide price schedule. Actual department costs depend on what is purchased and the work a responder is equipped to perform.
The local debate brings together two needs that should be examined separately. Equipment funding helps a department obtain tools. Recruitment and retention efforts help it maintain the people trained to use them. A strong program must address both.
For residents, useful questions include how many active members a department has, which equipment needs replacement and what training commitments new members face. Those answers would make the funding discussion more concrete than a general appeal for assistance.
What the volunteer tax-credit proposal would change
The proposed increase is contained in A.6790-A and its Senate counterpart, S.6233-A. The amended measure would raise the credit to $800 for an eligible individual and $1,600 for spouses filing jointly when both qualify.
It would also allow eligible volunteers to receive the income tax credit while receiving a property tax exemption tied to their service. The text retains the requirement that a volunteer be active for the entire taxable year.
The bill applies its higher-credit provisions to taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2026. Its effective-date clause says the act would take effect on April 1 following enactment. Those details make implementation guidance important if it becomes law.
For Oneida County firefighters and volunteer ambulance workers, the proposal offers a larger benefit, but it is not yet an enacted entitlement. Readers should not assume passage alone authorizes claiming the higher amount.
What has passed, and what has not?
The Assembly record lists passage on May 14, 2026, followed by Senate passage on June 1. The Senate vote was 60-0. The online status is “Passed Senate & Assembly,” with no recorded delivery to the governor or signature as of this article’s review.
Griffo also called for action in a column published by the Utica Phoenix on October 12. His column urged the legislative majorities to send the bill to Gov. Kathy Hochul for consideration.
How the current credit differs
The state Department of Taxation and Finance’s published guidance lists the existing refundable credit as $200 for an eligible individual, or $400 for a married couple filing jointly when both spouses qualify.
That guidance requires New York residency and active volunteer service throughout the tax year. It generally bars claiming the credit when the taxpayer receives a real property tax exemption related to that service, with a qualification for certain multiple-owner situations.
A refundable credit can provide a benefit beyond reducing tax owed to zero, subject to the applicable rules. Volunteers should use official instructions and qualified tax assistance to determine eligibility. The proposed expansion and the current filing instructions remain distinct.
The Public Safety Investment Act is a separate proposal
Griffo sponsors S.6786-A, the Public Safety Investment Act. Its posted amended text provides for $150 million annually for law enforcement grants and $150 million annually for firefighter grants in 2027, 2028 and 2029, within amounts appropriated.
Adding those amounts yields $300 million a year, or $900 million over three years. That calculation comes from the posted bill text. It differs from Griffo’s October 12 column, which describes $300 million over three years, split into $50 million a year each for police and fire departments. The discrepancy is unresolved in the materials reviewed.
The official record lists the Senate proposal in the Codes Committee. These are proposed funding amounts, not an enacted appropriation or a grant award for Oneida County firefighters.
The Assembly companion, A.9660, sponsored by Michael Cashman, is also listed in committee. Its text would direct fire funding toward equipment and toward hiring, training and related initiatives. State officials would establish eligibility and an application process.
Its hiring provisions include continued-employment requirements. The police equipment provisions exclude purchases or maintenance of police cruisers and other vehicles. These details show why a department would need to review the final program rules rather than assume every expense qualifies.
Training support already exists
The discussion is not limited to pending legislation. In an April 23 announcement, the Firefighters Association of the State of New York welcomed Hochul’s expansion of the volunteer firefighter training stipend program to five additional courses.
FASNY described stipends as recognition of the time and possible financial effects of training on volunteers and their families. That existing program is separate from both the proposed tax credit and the Public Safety Investment Act.
For Oneida County firefighters, distinguishing those programs matters. A recruit may have a question about eligible training, a household may need tax information, and a department may seek equipment assistance. Each need has its own rules.
What residents should watch next
Supporting emergency services also requires public accountability. Before judging a grant program, residents can ask how awards would be distributed, which needs would receive priority and how departments would report results. A program’s value depends on how well it addresses documented gaps.
Residents interested in joining can consult FASNY’s Fire in You recruitment resource and speak with their local department about eligibility, training and time commitments. Ask what roles are available and which responsibilities match your skills.
The next legislative milestones are clear: delivery and gubernatorial action on the tax-credit measure, and movement of the grant proposal through the Legislature. Oneida County firefighters have made their needs visible. Readers can follow the official bill records, ask local departments specific questions and decide how they can help sustain the service their neighbors provide.
Sources: Observer-Dispatch/AOL reporting; New York legislative records for A.6790-A, S.6233-A, S.6786-A and A.9660; state tax guidance; FASNY; and Griffo’s October 12 Utica Phoenix column. Legislative status checked October 12, 2026.
