La Crosse dive team asks county for a budget increase

The dive unit for La Crosse County is asking for some extra funding in the county budget.

The volunteer group of dive rescuers spends about $40,000 a year — much of that on equipment maintenance and at their headquarters on Kertzman Place near Isle La Plume.

Dive team member Shawn Mahoney, however, said the county only covers about $7,700 of those costs. He asked the county judiciary committee for an extra $900 a year to pay utility bills for the building.

“If the county could see fit to increase our budget to cover utilities that could be a huge help to us,” Mahoney said. “I guess we didn’t realize how much gas and water cost in the city of La Crosse.”

Mahoney added that most of the dive unit’s revenue comes from fundraising and private donations.

This year the group has gone out on 14 pages, recovered five vehicles, one UTV and assisted multiple disabled boats.

The dive team has two boats, along with two used ambulances donated by Tri-State.

Unit members are also fixing up the new headquarters in Muddy Flats, which could cost $25,000-$30,000 Mahoney said.

“That’s just a guess,” he told the committee. “We haven’t gotten quotes on the ceiling or the roof or that kind of stuff.’