Albany Already Has the Answer to Strengthening Volunteer Fire Service
New Yorkers are feeling the squeeze of rising costs—from housing and utilities to groceries and child care. Governor Hochul’s 2026 State of the State and Executive Budget proposals rightly prioritize affordability as the defining challenge of the moment.
That same principle should guide how Albany approaches public safety—and specifically, how it supports New York’s volunteer fire service.
Volunteer firefighters protect more than 90 percent of the state geographically. They are working parents, students, retirees, and neighbors who respond when the alarm sounds. But like many public service institutions, the volunteer fire system is under increasing pressure. Recruitment and retention have become harder, as economic demands grow and training becomes more time-consuming and costly.
The good news is Albany doesn’t need to build a new solution from the ground up. The Firefighters Association of the State of New York (FASNY) has already developed a smart, ready-to-implement path forward: the Volunteer Optimization Legislative Initiative (VOLI), a 14-point plan to strengthen volunteer recruitment, retention, and relief statewide.
The plan is rooted in the findings of the state’s 2022 Recruitment and Retention Task Force and reflects what volunteers say they need most: relief from rising costs, modernized training systems, and real incentives to serve. The 14-point plan includes practical reforms like an expanded $800 income tax credit, improved property tax exemptions, reduced out-of-pocket training expenses, and new flexibility for volunteers balancing service with family and work.
In short, the plan strengthens what already works. It supports volunteers without creating costly new mandates or shifting the burden onto local governments or taxpayers. That’s exactly the kind of approach Albany should be looking for.
Crucially, the 14-point plan also complements the Governor’s affordability agenda. Just as the administration is advancing proposals to make life more affordable for working families, the plan does the same, specifically for those who choose to serve their communities. Making it easier to volunteer means more stable departments, better protected communities, and stronger public safety across the state.
This isn’t a controversial proposal, but a common-sense solution. One that can be implemented quickly, without bureaucratic complexity, and with broad public support.
As budget negotiations unfold, lawmakers should resist the temptation to reinvent the system or introduce uncertainty. Instead, they should embrace a plan that’s already developed, already aligned with statewide goals, and already positioned to deliver results.
The 14-point plan is the right tool at the right time. It protects taxpayers, strengthens local fire departments, and ensures New York’s volunteer fire service remains strong for the next generation.
Albany doesn’t need another task force. It needs action.
John D’Alessandro, Secretary of the Firefighters Association of the State of New York in Albany
