WESTERLO — Westerlo has joined its neighbor Knox and the Berne-Knox-Westerlo Central School District in adopting a 10-percent property-tax exemption law for volunteer members of fire departments and ambulance squads. 

The town board voted unanimously for the law after a public hearing on April 4 in which all who attended were in favor, Supervisor Matt Kryzak told The Enterprise this week. 

State legislation, new last year, allowed the assessment reductions for the first time.

The terms of the Westerlo law are virtually identical to those of Knox and BKW, requiring just two years of service for eligibility, a lifetime exemption once 20 years of service is reached, and continued exemption for widows of volunteers who have died in the line of duty. 

Two years is the minimum requirement allowed by New York State, with the maximum being five years, and with no obligation to extend the exemption to 20-year members or widows. 

Westerlo is served by one local fire department. Westerlo’s former ambulance squad disbanded in 2019 because of low recruitment, and aging members. The average age of its 15 members at the time was 60. 

Towns and volunteer groups are hoping that, in addition to expressing gratitude for existing volunteers, the exemptions will boost recruitment and retention for the various groups, which have been struggling to attract members amid increasing training requirements handed down by New York State.