Rescue squad officials defend budget

By Karissa Minn

kminn@salisburypost.com

The Rowan County Rescue Squad defended its budget at a board meeting Wednesday.

Harold Morefield Jr., president of the rescue squad’s board of directors, presented a written statement for publication to a Post reporter at Wednesday’s meeting.

“We, as a nonprofit, funded entity are aware that our budget is a matter of public policy,” Morefield wrote as part of the statement. “If any questions arise, we are here to answer them.”

According to audited financial statements from fiscal year 2008-09, the rescue squad took in about $742,000 and spent about $725,000 in the year ending June 30, 2009.

The agency pays two full-time employees and 16 part-time employees, and it uses the services of about 50 volunteers, said Assistant Chief Eddie Cress.

As an administrator, Cress is paid a $52,000 salary, not including benefits. The remaining budgeted support staff expenses for fiscal year 2010-11 total $152,0000.

A large portion of the budget goes to equipment and vehicle repair, fuel, insurance and debt service.

“We don’t have a lot of brand new pieces of equipment,” Cress said. “We have three vehicles that are 1980s models.”

Rescue squad vehicles cost a lot to equip and maintain, he said, especially with increasingly tight state standards.

Food and beverage expenses are budgeted at $7,000. Chief Coyt Karriker said this largely goes toward purchases of Gatorade and other fluids for squad members and the people they help.

In fiscal year 2008-09, the squad received $67,000 from grants and contributions, $106,000 from the United Way and $412,000 from Rowan County.

For fiscal years 2009-10 and 2010-11, the agency budgeted for $40,000 from special grants, $21,000 from individual contributions, $83,000 from the United Way and $412,000 once more from Rowan County.

In its budget request this year, the rescue squad originally asked for a $68,000 increase from the county.

Karriker said the money was to sustain peak-time service to southern Rowan, which the agency has been providing for the county since November 2009, as well as to upgrade its county backup vehicles to make them equivalent to EMS trucks.

The increase was removed at the agency’s July 13 meeting, Karriker said, after speaking with county officials and receiving updated revenue numbers.

This month, county staff members and two commissioners met and concluded that the southern Rowan service should generate enough call revenue to sustain itself. Karriker then agreed to continue to provide service to southern Rowan at the current funding level.

United Way funds were cut a few years ago, board members said, and other funding options are limited.

“Any time you deal with the United Way, you sign a contract that limits you to one fundraiser,” Morefield said.

The rescue squad pays a company called Volunteer Mail Service to contact county residents and ask for contributions. Donors receive one free photograph with the option of buying more, and the rescue squad keeps all donations.

For fiscal year 2007-08, fundraising revenue was reported to be $148,400. That decreased to $109,800 in fiscal year 2008-2009.

The rescue squad budgeted $179,600 in annual fundraising revenue for the next two fiscal years.

“Funds raised have continued to go down year after year,” said Commissioner Jon Barber, a member of the board and the county’s liaison. Barber was the only commissioner present Wednesday.

When asked if the squad would consider new fundraising methods, Morefield said, “We might have to do that.”

Cress said the relative cost compared to the revenue brought in still makes the portrait program a good deal.

Last fiscal year, budgeted expenses for the fundraiser were $58,000. This year, that number dropped to $35,000. Cress said the company went from being a call service to a mailer service, causing its costs to decrease.

Board and squad members also made the following comments Wednesday about expenses they said have been criticized by Post readers:

• The agency contracts with a cleaning company owned by Cress’ wife, but the arrangement began before Cress was a member. He is not involved in any related contract negotiations.

• An internal surveillance system was installed several months ago for security and insurance purposes. The rescue squad is just one of several groups that uses its building, board members said.

• The rescue squad’s airboat is a necessary tool for shallow water and mud rescues, board members said. It was bought with grant money.

• Teenagers sometimes ride along in rescue squad vehicles as part of an intern program. They are covered by the agency’s insurance, not county funds, Morefield said.

Contact Karissa Minn at 704-797-4222.