Buenos Aires deputy proposes new funding for volunteer firefighters

Priscila Minnaard, a deputy for the Radical Civic Union (UCR) in Buenos Aires, has introduced a bill to strengthen the financing of the province's volunteer firefighter system. The proposal seeks to amend Law 14,761 to progressively eliminate current budget caps, ensuring stations receive funds aligned with their operational needs.

The initiative outlines a gradual increase in the allocation of real estate tax revenue. The proposed scheme sets the allocation at 1.5% in 2027, increasing to 2% in 2028, and reaching 3% from 2029 onwards. Minnaard stated this scheduled progressivity is designed to provide fiscal predictability for the province while ensuring budgetary stability for the fire departments.

To ensure equitable distribution, the bill proposes a new formula: 50% of funds would be distributed equally among all stations, while the remaining 50% would be allocated based on population density and territorial surface area. This aims to balance the needs of firefighters in large urban centers with those serving small towns and rural areas.