The Houston County Commission recently eliminated its annual funding for the all-volunteer Houston County Rescue Unit, reducing its allocation from $20,000 to zero. The unit, comprising 25 members, responds without charge to water rescue and search calls across the region. Officials with the unit warn that it could deplete its resources within 12 to 18 months following the funding cut.
Chris Ball, president of the Houston County Rescue Unit, confirmed that the group received a letter informing them of the budget reduction. The unit has a long history, having conducted search operations in local waters since a tornado victim drowned in 1963.
Houston County Commission Chairman Brandon Shoupe stated that the commission’s decision was partly influenced by comments from the sheriff’s office. According to Shoupe, individuals from the sheriff’s department indicated that the department possessed “all the ability to do the same thing that the rescue unit was doing.”
However, Ball disputes this claim, explaining that the capabilities of the two entities differ significantly. He noted that while the sheriff’s office typically has information on where to search, his team often begins operations without such specifics, relying on specialized sonar and robotic equipment that, according to Ball, the sheriff’s office does not have. Ball illustrated the difference by stating, "It’s like if you have a sports car and you have a pickup truck. Right? They’re both... They can both drive you somewhere. But one is going to do something much better than the other.” This specialized equipment, Ball said, costs over $100,000 to purchase, making the former $20,000 annual county allocation essential, as it would cover the equipment cost over five years.
Ball also highlighted the unit’s recent activity, noting that three of its last four call-outs were within Houston County. One of the recent four call-outs was in Brundage, while the other three were in Houston County within the last 60 days.
Shoupe acknowledged that Ball was not present at the meeting where the commission voted on the funding cut. Ball stated he did not receive advance notice before the letter arrived, expressing disappointment that he "never even got a phone call." Shoupe admitted he "probably could have called him and let him know" directly, though he mentioned informing two other commission members, believing he had provided a "heads up."
The vote to cut the unit’s funding was not unanimous. Shoupe indicated that the county's significant $55 million to $60 million jail expansion project played a role in the decision-making process. He explained that funding the jail project equates to about $7 million per year, while the county’s general fund is approximately $33 million annually.
In response to the funding loss, the Houston County Rescue Unit is now cutting non-essential expenses to maintain operations. Despite the challenges, Ball affirmed that his volunteers are committed to continuing their service, saying, "It’s like it’s in our bones to do this. So we’re going to continue to try to do it as long as we absolutely possibly can.” Shoupe suggested that the commissioners might reconsider the funding decision if the unit reaches out and discusses the matter with individual commissioners, though he made no promises.
The Houston County Rescue Unit is a registered nonprofit organization and is accepting donations to support its continued operations.