Finance and Audit Update

October 11, 2021

The Finance and Audit Committee is chaired by 1^st Vice President Josh Holzheimer, Deputy Chief with the City of Greer, and the following personnel from across the state serve on the committee:

• Bryan Bailey – Staff Liaison
• Brad Guin – Whitefield Fire Department and Taylors Fire Department
• Brian Brazier – City of Aiken Public Safety
• Brian Horton – Greenville City Fire Department
• Marlene Kostyrka – Charleston Fire Department
• Marvin Murray – Cheraw Fire Department
• Phillip (Le) Hendrick – City of Conway Fire Department

The committee has been very active this year already. We met in July, August and on September 2, 2021 to work with staff to produce and finalize the 2021/2022 budget. The annual budget was presented to the Executive Committee and staff at the Fall Retreat in Hartsville, South Carolina and on Friday, September 10, the Executive Committee voted to approve the budget as presented.

Here are some of the key items in the budget:

• Goals and Objectives of the Finance & Audit Committee
• Reallocation of previous used salaries to include 2 new positions
  • Training and Education Coordinator (Contract Employee)
    • As one of the continued budget priorities for our Association, having a staff position to primarily focus on Training & Education remained important. As discussed several years ago when the Training and Education fee was increased, having a focus on our delivery of programs is key and we knew it would take several years to be realized. That time is now. For fiscal year 2022, we will be reallocating an existing position to fill the Training and Education Coordinator function. This team member will concentrate on the training content associated with Fire-Rescue Conference, Fire Service Improvement Conference, Quarterly meetings and special programs throughout the year. 
  • Foundation Fund Raiser
    • A second investment priority for this year is supporting the Firefighters Foundation in establishing a sustainment plan that will allow for the growth and stability needed to serve firefighters in their time of need. In addition, we must have the means to raise the needed funds to implement the plan. We are investing, along with the Foundation Board of Directors, into a resource to lead the development of the plan and the fund going forward. Our intent is for this investment to be self sustaining within 24 months and allow us to focus on another program area after that time. 
• Financial Sustainability
• Capital Improvements
  • Small SUV (Pool Vehicle) for staff to use at the Association office
  • Covers for Association trailers
  • Long range building plan
    • More than three decades ago, the membership and leadership of our Association saw fit to begin the process to have a permanent home for our operations and day to day business of supporting the SC Fire Service. Our current facility was planned, designed, constructed and operational in the early 2000’s. Just a few short years later, those same members and leaders were able to fulfill their mortgage obligation and be the sole and complete owners of our office building. The same as any near twenty year old home, the building is in need of continued maintenance. The cost of ownership, while worthwhile, is expensive. It was the intent of the Executive Committee to begin to put money back to sustain this maintenance and ensure we have the facility needed to support our operations into the future. 
• Projects to continue throughout the year
  • Policy formulation for the Committee
  • Keep the Committee engaged
  • Plan for growth

Now that we have the budget behind us, our next area of focus will be the annual audit, which will be completed and presented to the Executive Committee in March of 2022. While Green Finney LLP is working on the audit, the Finance and Audit Committee will be working to develop committee policies.