Committee says rescue squads’ audits disprove critic’s missing funds charge

By Audrey Levine Staff Writer
   A review of the financial records for the Hillsborough Rescue Squad and Hillsborough Emergency Medical Services Corporation (HEMSCorp) was presented at last week’s Township Committee meeting which refuted what were dubbed “wild accusations” of fiscal mismanagement by Woods Road resident Ron Campbell.
   At the township’s Aug. 12 budget hearing, Mr. Campbell questioned appropriations of funds to both the Rescue Squad and HEMSCorp, and said that, after examination of tax returns, he found some money to be missing from records.
   ”Every penny was accounted for,” Rescue Squad Chief David Gwin said at the Aug. 26 Township Committee meeting. “I cannot overstate how offended we are by Mr. Campbell’s comments.”
   Mr. Campbell recommended to the committee that an independent municipal auditor perform a study of the finances for the two organizations.
   Deputy Mayor Frank DelCore said audits were performed —and all funds were found to be correct.
   ”After the last meeting, we did a review of the records,” he said. “Everything came back accurate as we had expected.”
   Mr. Campbell questioned the 2006 HEMSCorp tax records, citing that the organization ended the year with $249,431 in net assets or fund balance, after expenses and adjustments were made.
   ”Their tax return clearly shows that they have made a substantial profit, apparently ending 2006 with a total net assets and fund balance of over $249,000,” he said.
   According to an Aug. 20 letter from Douglas Smith, of Bartolomei Pucciarelli, LLC, of Lawrenceville – which is the accountant for both the Rescue Squad and HEMSCorp – the $249,431 refers to HEMSCorp’s net assets — the difference between the organization’s assets and its liabilities — at the end of the fiscal year.
   In fact, according to the auditors, HEMSCorp’s tax form 990 from 2006 reports a net loss of $10,588.
   As for the prior year, according to Mr. Campbell, 2005 tax returns show that HEMSCorp received $37,584 from the township in direct tax support, and the Rescue Squad received $32,500. In addition, he said, township financial records indicate the township gave out $192,999.82 in direct tax support.
   ”If the Rescue Squad received $32,500, and HEMSCorp federal tax returns show that they received only $37,584, but the township financial records indicate they actually gave out $192,999.82, where did the other $122,915.82 go?” he asked.
   Mr. Smith said the organizations’ tax forms actually show a total of $70,084 contributed by the government in 2005, with $32,500 going to the Rescue Squad, and $37,584 for HEMSCorp. In addition, he said, the organizations’ 2006 tax form reflects an additional $112,752 from township and government contributions that had been received in 2005.
   Chief Gwin said that the audits have shown that all the money the two companies have is accounted for in their records.
   ”We take great pride in the services we provide,” he said. “We do account for the money.”