Unfortunately the only answer is hearings and rules and penalties to keep this from happening (but only to a point) and it's a slippery slope for the government.
There are presently such mechanisms in place for reimbursement to the government (from local on up) for criminal investigations, and as I recall, there are similar policies that allow for reimbursement for assistance, ie: Rescue, especially in cases of negligence. Not sure why the USCG can't or won't take advantage of those? Some things can't be foretold. For those people, help SHOULD be free (taxpayer dime).
For the rest, (IMHO) stupid should get expensive!
The USCG is not like other military branches that need increased funding levels to go beyond their normal "work-ups" or excercises or assist in SAR (not sure where that funding comes from...they may be able to ask for supplemental funding) when involved in big SAR cases)...also not sure how the Nat Guard is funded for public assistance missions...
The last I knew, the National Guard get's it's funding from multiple sources including the DOD budget, Homeland Security, and the individual States. As I recall, funding for a particular mission is determined by the activating authority, i.e.: FEMA, DOD Activations, Homeland Security or the Governor of the Home State. The last I read, if for example, Florida sends NG Troops to Ga. to assist with flooding under a STATE mutual aid agreement, Ga. offsets the cost. If the whole ball of wax ends up under FEMA, then the feds pic up the tab. Things may have changed though?
But unless something has drastically changes and I missed the news story...the USCG gets plenty of money to do SAR...it's usually money to keep things running or purchase new that the USCG historically got screwed on...now that they are a big cog in homeland security...not sure how they are doing getting new/upgraded stuff.
You said a mouthful there my friend!
I don't think we ever had enough money for our overall tasks.
Everything from maintaining ATONs, to Environmental Protection, Commercial Vessel Safety, COTP, SAR, LE...
Command was always bitching about concerns over fuel cost/usage, maintenance, need for newer equipment, training...Then factor in the cost for reserves and auxiliary mission requirements, and
It didn't help that at times, the gov't couldn't figure out what to do with us, bouncing us around through the years to DOR, DOT, DOD (as appropriate), and now HS???
Add to that at least one occasion where we had a hand wringing panty waist for a commandant who didn't care for our military or LE function at all! If given the option, he would have disarmed the CG, pulled us out of the military and LE functions all together, and had us chasing SAR calls, oil spills and lights.
They do seem to have a bit better funding after going under HS though, at least on the LE side of things.
Let's see how it holds out?
OD