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Dallas Rescue Squad Asks Gaston County for Unit-Hour Rate Increase to Sustain Coverage
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Summary
Dallas Rescue Squad asked commissioners for an increase in the unit-hour reimbursement from $51.50 to $60 for FY27, citing inflation and sustainability; the squad said the marginal county cost would be about $112,710 and stressed the unit provides a large share of BLS coverage to the county.
Earl Withers, assistant chief of the Dallas Rescue Squad, told the Gaston County Board of Commissioners on April 14 that the volunteer-turned-hybrid squad needs a higher unit-hour reimbursement to remain sustainable.
Withers said the squad currently receives $51.50 per unit hour from the county and is asking for $60 per unit hour in FY27 — an $8.50 increase — to cover rising costs for insurance, fuel, personnel and supplies. He said the marginal annual cost of the requested increase as submitted in the fiscal-year-27 EMS budget is about $112,710.
"We are simply here to talk about the sustainability of the Dallas Rescue Squad," Withers said, noting the organization answered just over 10,000 calls for service in FY24–25 and has transitioned from an all-volunteer corps to a mixed volunteer and paid staffing model.
Withers told the board the last unit-hour increase the squad received was effective July 1, 2022, and described ongoing conversations with county EMS leadership and the deputy county manager about continued viability. Commissioners did not immediately approve the request; staff said they would follow up with the squad on budgetary options and next steps.
The squad asked that an increase be funded to ensure continued basic life support coverage and to allow the organization to plan staffing and equipment needs for the coming year.
