By Brenna R. Kelly
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Faced with losing the water rescue team he started 36 years ago, Capt. Dale Appel said he will slash the unit's budget and resubmit it.

"If I keep crunching the numbers," he said, "I think I can make it suitable for Boone County."

Boone County Fiscal Court is considering cutting funding for the water rescue unit from its 2004 budget. At a meeting with County Administrator Jim Parsons Thursday morning, Appel asked for the chance to trim the $162,228 budget before the county prepares its final budget.

Appel's goal is to maintain the level of service, including Ohio River patrols, rescues, and rescue divers, but at a lower cost.

"I don't plan on cutting down on patrols," he said. "But I may cut down on how we do that."

Appel plans to cut maintenance and fuel expenses which make up the bulk of the budget. The county allotted $40,000 for maintenance in its preliminary budget, which did not include cuts to the water unit.

But Appel had asked for nearly twice that amount - $79,250 - for maintenance, because several motors need to be replaced.

Appel said he isn't trying to trim to meet a certain dollar figure, but is trying to get the budget as low as he can.

Boone Water Rescue has about 35 volunteers who patrol, respond to emergencies and retrieve evidence for law enforcement. The unit has three county-owned boats and several personal watercraft.

The unit patrols 42 miles of Boone County shoreline and 8 miles of Kenton County. Kenton County and Covington pay Boone County $15,000 each a year for the service. The revised budget may include asking Kenton and Covington to pay more, Appel said.

The water rescue team's budget had been slightly increasing from 1999 to 2002, but in 2003 it was cut almost $10,000.

Appel did not know the county was considering cuts to his department when he put together his initial budget request of $205,578.

"I just have to be more creative this time," said Appel, who planned to discuss the unit's fate with rescue team members Thursday night at an already-scheduled meeting.

Appel plans to submit his revised plan to Parsons next week. Fiscal Court will vote on a final version of the county's budget June 24.

E-mail bkelly@enquirer.com