(Springfield, IL) — The state of Illinois has begun offering a tax credit to encourage more participation in local volunteer fire departments. Almost 70 percent of Illinois firefighters are volunteers but participation is falling — not just in Illinois but nationwide. State Senator Chris Belt pushed through legislation to allow volunteer firefighters who work for free or a small stipend to deduct 500-dollars from their annual taxes. Almost three-thousand Illinoisans have received the tax credit so far.
