Animal Services Director Toller addresses budget disparities with Madera and Chowchilla

The Madera County Board of Supervisors held a special meeting on June 9, 2025, to discuss pressing budgetary issues, particularly concerning animal services. The meeting highlighted significant challenges faced by the county's animal services department, including budget reductions and the allocation of costs between the county and the cities of Madera and Chowchilla.

Animal Services Director Amy Toller reported that due to budget constraints, programs such as low-cost spaying and neutering would be reduced, and services for the intake of relinquished pets and strays would be limited. The department currently has 20 allocated positions, with two unfunded, to help meet these budget cuts.

Toller explained the financial dynamics between the county and the two cities regarding animal services. Chowchilla manages its own animal services, which has alleviated some costs for the county. However, Madera does not have its own shelter, resulting in the county bearing the majority of costs associated with animal intake, medical care, and euthanasia for Madera's animals. Toller noted that while Madera contributes $180,000 to the animal services budget, the county's total expenditure for these services is approximately $22 million, with Madera accounting for 40% of the animals taken in.

Supervisors expressed concern over the inequity in cost-sharing, emphasizing the need for a reevaluation of the financial responsibilities of the cities. Supervisor Rogers suggested that the county should consider capping services based on usage and called for a deeper analysis of the financial agreements between the county and the cities. He highlighted the importance of ensuring that cities contribute fairly for the services they utilize, including library and public health services.

The meeting concluded with a consensus on the necessity for further discussions and actions to address the budget shortfall and to ensure equitable cost-sharing among the entities involved. The board plans to explore these issues in the upcoming fiscal year, aiming to rectify the financial imbalances that currently exist.