View Full Version : NH F&G may be out of S&F funds
rlharris
08-26-2009, 07:37
According to an article in today's Union Leader (http://unionleader.com/article.aspx?headline=Search+and+rescue+costs+tapp ing+out+account&articleId=1b7a0796-61eb-487e-9243-a4c12f4b06ed), the allotted funds for S&R in New Hampshire may be exhausted.
Easy to understand, based on the wages they pay their employees.
Not surprised with all the ill-prepared idiots that have been calling for help on their cell phones.
skinewmexico
08-26-2009, 10:00
Maybe they should form some volunteer SAR units, like most other states.
peakbagger
08-26-2009, 12:54
There are numerous volunteer search and rescue units in NH and many of the folks participating in the most hazardous rescues are volunteers that dont get reimbursed. Fish and Game tends to be the first responders that coordinate the rescue as well as foots the bill when helicopters are needed and the national guard isnt around to use their helicopter (those hours gets charged off to training). Unfortunately, the rescues tends to happen on weekends and overnight so even coordinating the rescue is mostly on overtime.
Pedaling Fool
08-26-2009, 14:21
Hey y'all, not really knowing about how these things are funded, I'm curious if most/all of these SARs were conducted in the White Mountain National Forest http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/forests/white_mountain/maps/.
If so, why is the state of NH stuck with the bill?
Don't the feds, at least, reimburse the state since it is National Land?
If the feds don't, is this common or is there some special circumstances here?
There are numerous volunteer search and rescue units in NH and many of the folks participating in the most hazardous rescues are volunteers that dont get reimbursed. Fish and Game tends to be the first responders that coordinate the rescue as well as foots the bill when helicopters are needed and the national guard isnt around to use their helicopter (those hours gets charged off to training). Unfortunately, the rescues tends to happen on weekends and overnight so even coordinating the rescue is mostly on overtime.
If it's such a burden, maybe they should schedule some of their folks to work weekends, you know, when the highest demand is there.
Just a thought.
skinewmexico
08-26-2009, 14:31
Maybe they should make Fish & Game employees exempt, so they didn't have to pay overtime.:sun
Blue Jay
08-26-2009, 19:36
Political alert, political alert, the trail is located on public land however we cannot talk about public funding. Please cease and desist immediately.
Hey y'all, not really knowing about how these things are funded, I'm curious if most/all of these SARs were conducted in the White Mountain National Forest http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/forests/white_mountain/maps/.
If so, why is the state of NH stuck with the bill?
Don't the feds, at least, reimburse the state since it is National Land?
If the feds don't, is this common or is there some special circumstances here?
About 24% of NH Fish and Game funding comes from Federal Funds.
While individual accounts at Fish And Game may be set up for specific purposes (just like in each of own home towns) and individual accounts may be tied tied to specific sources of funding (just like in each of our own home towns), that is something of a shell game.
The Feds give Fish and Game 1/4 of their budget. Which is WAY, WAY, WAY more than the sate of NH spends on search and rescue operations conducted on Federal Land.
People outside of NH have standing in any debate regarding Search and Rescue fees, to be sure.
Pedaling Fool
08-27-2009, 08:59
Political alert, political alert, the trail is located on public land however we cannot talk about public funding. Please cease and desist immediately.
Not sure what you're saying, public land is govt land http://nationalatlas.gov/printable/fedlands.html
About 24% of NH Fish and Game funding comes from Federal Funds.
While individual accounts at Fish And Game may be set up for specific purposes (just like in each of own home towns) and individual accounts may be tied tied to specific sources of funding (just like in each of our own home towns), that is something of a shell game.
The Feds give Fish and Game 1/4 of their budget. Which is WAY, WAY, WAY more than the sate of NH spends on search and rescue operations conducted on Federal Land.
People outside of NH have standing in any debate regarding Search and Rescue fees, to be sure.
Interesting:-?
neighbor dave
08-27-2009, 09:03
next up in our fine land......
these jobs will be outsourced for a profit:-?
shut up and go along, trust me:rolleyes:
Maybe I'm a cold-hearted buzzard,
but I'd consider eliminating ALL public funding of search and rescue
-not due to budgetary strain, but just on the principal it should be an all-volunteer, all-donation based endeavor
-no privateering either.
saimyoji
08-27-2009, 09:32
Political alert, political alert, the trail is located on public land however we cannot talk about public funding. Please cease and desist immediately.
no funding needed if they are "volunteers." Funny how the meaning of that word seems to have changed.
Snowleopard
08-27-2009, 09:58
Many of the personnel for SAR are volunteer, but the state and Fish and Game still plays an important role (perhaps there are SAR volunteers on WB who can clarify).
NH, like many states now, has serious budget issues and has had budget cutbacks. NH has no broad based taxes (no income tax, no sales tax), which may make their situation harder.
Be sure that you don't need rescue in the White Mountains at the end of the NH fiscal year.