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Rescue squad seeks 35% budget increase; commissioners ask for detailed finances before decision
Summary
The county—s primary rescue squad requested a 35% increase, citing a shift from all-volunteer coverage to daytime paid staffing and a new vehicle order; commissioners asked for ledgers and spending details before committing funds.
The Alleghany County Rescue Squad asked the Board of Commissioners for an increase in annual support, proposing a roughly 35% rise in its budget to cover a mix of equipment and payroll expenses.
A presenter for the rescue squad told commissioners the organization has shifted from fully volunteer staffing toward a model that includes two part-time daytime employees and hopes to add a daytime paramedic. The squad—s budget presentation listed a $50,000 payroll line (which the presenter said would include payroll taxes and related expenses) and noted that the squad transported 37 patients last year. The presenter also said the squad has a new vehicle ordered and that a typical payment on that purchase would be in the range discussed in the squad—s materials.
Commissioners raised several questions. Several asked for a copy of the squad—s checks and a general ledger to see how funds have been spent in prior years; others asked for service counts (calls vs. standbys) and clarification about fund balance. The presenter acknowledged the squad is no longer purely volunteer and said the requested funds could go to payroll and to purchasing or supporting a new vehicle and heavy-rescue capability.
Commissioners and staff said they wanted clearer accountability documents before approving the requested increase. One commissioner asked: “How many services have they actually gone on, not standby, but actually go on this year?” A second commissioner said that county funding previously had been flat-funded for several years and that the squad had increased its requests accordingly.
No formal appropriation or vote was recorded during this budget discussion; commissioners asked staff to supply the squad—s ledger and additional documentation that would allow them to examine how increased support would be used.
