Shapiro to propose new tax incentives to attract more officers, teachers and nurses

HARRISBURG (KDKA) - Next Tuesday, Gov. Josh Shapiro will propose a significant tax credit to encourage more people to become police officers, teachers and nurses.

As KDKA political editor Jon Delano reports, it comes as personnel shortages continue to plague these three key professions.

Talk to the experts in some of our most critical professions like teaching and policing and the report is the same.

"At one time, the city of Pittsburgh would get thousands of applicants to become police officers," says Lee Schmidt, Pittsburgh's Public Safety director. "That number has continued to dwindle over the past 20 years or so to now where we maybe have 10 to 20 a month."

"The number of certified teachers has decreased by two-thirds over the past decade from 20,000 to 7,000, under 7,000," says Dr. Linda Hippert, a Point Park University professor and former school superintendent.

In his first budget address on Tuesday, Shapiro will ask lawmakers for a special tax credit for any new person in the state who becomes certified as a teacher, police officer or nurse beginning this year.

"The governor's going to be proposing a tax credit of up to $2,500 for three years, which is a new tax credit for folks who are going to be joining these professions," says Manuel Bonder, the governor's press secretary.

Bonder says this could move thousands into these professions.

"The financial benefit will really help incentivize getting more people into these really critical professions," Bonder says.

Public Safety Director Schmidt says the city's police force is down about a hundred officers and Shapiro's plan could help.

"I think it could. I think every little bit helps, anything to entice folks to sign up to serve their community," says Schmidt. 

Hippert says the same is true of teachers but it's just a first step.

"I applaud the governor for doing that. I think it is a good first move and we need to continue to do more," says Hippert.

Both Hippert and Schmidt say there are other factors too that have led to a decline in these professions, but this is a start.

Again, this tax incentive would apply to 'new' teachers, nurses and police officers and would cost about $25 million.

The plan needs legislative approval and the governor hopes for bipartisan support.