The Mathews Volunteer Rescue Squad annual fund drive is underway and will continue through June 30.

The squad is looking at a $40,000 budget shortfall this year, said spokesman Ron Lambert, with more calls, higher costs, and less money coming in from insurance reimbursement. The goal for this year’s fund drive is $70,000.

The good news, said Lambert, is that the squad has picked up four new volunteers who can be added to the duty staff once certain requirements have been checked off.

In 2016, the squad answered 1,206 calls for assistance—the highest volume in the organization’s 48-year history, said a letter to residents. Even with that call volume, the squad manages to have an average on-scene time of 10 minutes or less, helped along by part-time paid providers. The squad currently consists of 16  part-time medics, along with 12 volunteers and eight junior squad members.

Changes in Medicare reimbursement rules coupled with a drop in the number of calls in wh...