State won't charge $25,000 for teen's rescue

[Dave Brooks]

CONCORD – New Hampshire has decided not to go ahead with a controversial attempt to charge a Massachusetts teen $25,000 to cover costs for a White Mountain search and rescue last year.

http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/news/699918-196/state-wont-charge-teen-25000-for-white.html?i=1

[ptex1.1]

Does that money really cover rescue costs? I have heard that the money just goes to the state for the general fund?

[RR]

Does that money really cover rescue costs? I have heard that the money just goes to the state for the general fund?Not in this case, Maine sent them the bill for the Heli time and NH was looking into recovering that and the other costs.

Clearly the cost of collection would exceed the recovered monies. As a result there will probably be some negotiations over the costs/payments between agencies in ME and NH. If NH does pay any or all of the Heli time, it will be paid out of the GF or the Departmental rider.

[natron]

Not in this case, Maine sent them the bill for the Heli time and NH was looking into recovering that and the other costs.

Clearly the cost of collection would exceed the recovered monies. As a result there will probably be some negotiations over the costs/payments between agencies in ME and NH. If NH does pay any or all of the Heli time, it will be paid out of the GF or the Departmental rider.

or get there own heli's.. Big brother Maine to the rescue!!;)

[TuaGuy]

Before this happens again, for whatever reason, can the powers that be please adopt something sane? There are models out there. I'd buy the insurance, euro style; I think most of us would. Whatever the system is, if discussed with all the interested concerns, it's got to be better than this. Strikes me, is this something that can be done as a private enterprise, non profit?

[jshefftz]

Does that money really cover rescue costs? I have heard that the money just goes to the state for the general fund?

Not in this case, Maine sent them the bill for the Heli time and NH was looking into recovering that and the other costs.

That is not necessarily the way that state finances work. That is, I highly doubt Maine's bill is contingent on NH receiving reimbursement from Scott Mason. I suspect that NH settled its accounts with Maine a long time ago. Therefore, any of the ~$25k that Scott would have paid would go to NH.

Fish & Game's finances are accounted for through a Special Revenue fund separate from the General Fund. IIRC correctly from the research I did last year, the impetus for the relatively recent change in the statutory language was to help cover SAR costs. I can't remember if any mention was made of ongoing subsidies from the State General Fund to the F&G Special Revenue fund?
However, just now I looked up the NH financial statements, and here is a quick summary of key financial indicators for F&G:

For the fiscal year ended 6-30-09 (i.e., about 2 months after the SAR, and a couple wks before the bill was sent)
Fees $10,002,000 43%
Grants from Federal Government $7,609,000 33%
Grants from Other [NH State?] Agencies $4,244,000 18%
Other revenue sources $1,442,000 6%
Total FY 2009 revenues $23,297,000 100%

Also, Tranfers In [from other state funds -- maybe General Fund subsidy?] $1,792,000

Cash and cash equivalents (mainly reflects the two major equity items below) $9,984,000
Reserved for Unexpended Appropriations (i.e., money they set aside to do something that they haven't done yet) $4,555,000
Unreserved, Undesignated Fund Balance (i.e., money sitting there for no specific purpose) $4,581,000
Average ending unreserved undesignated fund balance over last 10 yrs $3,065,500