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Search-and-rescue leaders urge $75,000 operating appropriation and warn of federal rule that could hamper volunteer teams
Summary
Search-and-rescue commanders asked the county to keep their operating budget flat at $75,000, highlighted roughly 4,500 volunteer hours this year and warned that a proposed OSHA rule could make volunteer rescue operations untenable; state and national associations are preparing legal responses, presenters said.
AJ Sano, commander of Davis County search and rescue, told the budget committee that the team has about 38 volunteers (20–24 active) and has logged more than 4,500 volunteer hours this year. He thanked the county for last year’s capital funds that allowed the team to acquire new off-road vehicles and equipment through Young Power Sports and private donations.
Treasurer Brad Barlow presented a flat operating request of $75,000, divided into categories such as cold-weather safety uniforms, operating supplies, training, education, awards and technology. He said the group expects to onboard 10–15 new volunteers in 2025 and emphasized that much of the equipment now owned by the team was originally privately purchased and that county support has standardized gear and improved safety.
Committee members raised a widely reported federal proposal from OSHA that presenters said targets volunteer search-and-rescue operations and could create impossible operational requirements. The panel said the Mountain Rescue Association (MRA), Western States Sheriff’s Association and other bodies oppose the proposed rule; presenters reported discussions with the governor and the attorney general and said rebuttal letters and possible litigation strategies are in the works to try to exempt volunteer Western rescue teams.
Presenters noted private partners (Diesel Brothers and Young Power Sports) donated or loaned vehicles and that the county seeks state reimbursements for equipment purchases (presenters cited a recent equipment purchase and said they expect an $84,000 reimbursement but did not provide a final figure). Committee members encouraged the sheriff’s office to use county lobby resources and to send letters to federal delegation members to raise the issue.
The search-and-rescue team concluded by asking the committee to approve the flat $75,000 operating request for next year; no formal vote was taken at the meeting. Officials agreed to provide the committee with copies of rebuttal letters already filed by associations.
