At this month's Gaston County Board of Commissioners meeting, Dallas Rescue Squad leaders gave commissioners a blunt warning: without a small increase in county reimbursement, keeping enough ambulance crews on the street could get a lot tougher. The volunteer‑turned‑hybrid rescue squad is asking for an $8.50 per‑hour bump that would raise its unit‑hour reimbursement from $51.50 to $60. Squad officials say climbing payroll, insurance and fuel costs are squeezing their budget as they work to maintain coverage across North Gaston Township.
Presentation to commissioners
Assistant Chief Earl Withers walked commissioners through the request during an April 14 work session listed on the county meeting agenda. The squad is asking for the $8.50 increase, which would move the county reimbursement from $51.50 to $60 per unit‑hour, to help cover payroll, insurance and fuel, as shown in documents from Gaston County.
Call volume and staffing
Withers told commissioners the squad answered just over 10,000 calls in fiscal 2024–25 and has transitioned from an all‑volunteer outfit to a mixed model with roughly 11 paid staff and about 25 volunteers, according to WCNC. The squad is the last remaining independent rescue squad in Gaston County, and leaders said long‑term sustainability is hard to plan for without additional county support.
County response and timing
Commissioners did not immediately sign off on the request. Staff told the board they would follow up with the squad on budget options and next steps, according to WSOC. The ask will be folded into the county's spring budget process; Gaston County budget materials show the county operates on a July 1 fiscal calendar, so any approved change would be timed to the start of the fiscal year, per Gaston County.
What it would cost
In the squad's FY27 submission, officials estimated the marginal annual county cost of the proposed rate increase at roughly $112,710, according to a meeting summary of the presentation. Local coverage and squad officials said the money would go primarily toward stabilizing payroll and benefits as the unit expands paid shifts to meet demand, as summarized by Citizen Portal.
Deputy County Manager Vincent Wong told reporters the county supports exploring other funding opportunities, including grants, as it weighs the request, according to WCNC. County leaders said that mix of options could reduce the pressure on general revenues if commissioners decide not to fully fund the increase.
Next up, county budget work sessions continue through the spring and commissioners will consider the final budget in the coming weeks. For now, Dallas Rescue Squad leaders say they will keep pressing their case while county staff run the numbers and sort through grant possibilities ahead of the fiscal‑year deadline.
