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February 6, 2004
Audit: Fire-rescue funds inadequateSERVICE FIGURES TO LOSE $200,000 PER YEAR AS THINGS NOW STAND
By BREANNE HUBBARD Abaris concluded in its report that "there is approximately a $200,000 annual shortfall in revenue to the department that is not likely to be filled with the revenue tools as they exist today." Revenue needs to be pulled from other sources to make up the deficit. With extra money in the budget, it will help with the staffing situation at the fire-rescue service, among other things. "We'll do everything we possibly can to make everything work," Fire Chief Scott Lewis said. Abaris suggested that increasing the ambulance base and mileage rates would add additional revenue to the department. For example, the current base rate of advanced life support is $550 and the mileage is $9 per transport mile. For 1,682 transports last year, they made $1,530,785. If fire-rescue service increases the ALS rate, using Abaris's low rate increase option, to $650 and the mileage to $11 per transport mile, then the total amount based on last year's transport numbers would increase by $302,793. Other sources of revenue suggested by Abaris involve grants. There are several federal and state grants that fire-rescue can qualify for, but the amounts for 2004 aren't released yet. "We look forward to getting some of the grant money," Lewis said. The grants for 2004 would be released in the spring. There are numerous setbacks to applying for grants. Since the town is not a legal entity, Nye County might have to apply for the grants, and therefore could decide on how much to share with fire-rescue services. Some grants don't cover day-to-day functions or staffing. Another complication is the department doesn't have the resources to produce a mass amount of grant applications. The report stated that "The community is currently underserved by fire suppression/EMS operational staff and, as new revenue is located, an additional daily three-person team should be implemented." There is also a vacancy in the assistant fire chief position that needs to be filled. "We are in the process of receiving applications and trying to set up phone interviews," Lewis said. Another concern of the Abaris Group is that the community and the town board don't have a shared vision on the purpose of the fire-rescue services. Abaris suggested "an overall fire/EMS master plan should be developed through a series of town hall meetings with community input." Fire-rescue is not making a profit on the ambulance service that they obtained from Nye County in 1999. In fact, the report showed that the ambulance service isn't even breaking even. But, the audit from 2000-2002 warned of negative cash and that funds might need to be transferred from other town funds. What Abaris also pointed out in the report is that Nye County didn't make a profit on the ambulance service, either. Abaris agreed with the fire chief on his recommendations to improve the fire stations included in the department's capital improvement plan: "The Abaris Group analysis is that there are safety and occupational health issues at all sites making virtually all but the main station not functional." According to Lewis, the plan was developed in 2002 and will be revised soon to reflect 2004. Although most of the plan wouldn't change, there are numbers that need to be updated. The Pahrump Town Board commissioned the Abaris Group, from Walnut Creek, Calif., to audit the fire-rescue department. The town board and parts of the community were concerned about "the mixed fire and EMS service, how is it being funded and the question of returning to a higher reliance on volunteers for the fire suppression side and outsourcing the EMS function to a private vendor." In order to find the sources of the problem, Abaris focused on operations and revenue opportunities when conducting its review. Abaris completed its audit by interviewing several members of fire-rescue service staff, town board members, EMS, demographic or reimbursement experts in Pahrump and the surrounding areas. Abaris also conducted surveys in similar communities in Nevada and Arizona to compare to Pahrump. The town board will hold a discussion about the Abaris report at 6 p.m. Monday at the Bob Ruud Community Center. Lewis hopes the town listens to the audit and realizes the recommendations made by Abaris are important. "We'll try to fully implement them as best we can with the resources we have." |
