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County to pursue contracted animal control officer; supervisors discuss humane-society intake costs and dog-license revenue
Summary
Adams County staff proposed contracting an animal control officer (on-call/contracted basis), moving intake funding from the sheriff's budget to planning and zoning, and sharing humane-society intake costs with municipalities on a prorated basis; the committee discussed licensing outreach, possible municipal resistance, and budget impacts.
Adams County administrators told supervisors they plan to contract an on-call animal control officer and to move the county’s animal-intake funding (currently in the sheriff’s budget) to the planning and zoning budget, where code enforcement will also sit.
County Administrator Cynthia described a proposal to make the animal-control position an on‑call contracted role that would bill the county when used, and to cover 50% of annual intake costs for the humane society in 2026 while asking municipalities to pay a prorated share based on their intake volume. Staff reported the county currently budgets roughly $30,000 annually for humane-society intakes and suggested shifting part‑time code-enforcement resources to full-time in planning and zoning to handle animal licensing and code enforcement work.
Supervisors raised several operational and cost questions: whether municipalities would agree to share costs, whether the humane society would keep intake costs within budget, whether license events or outreach could increase compliance and offset intake costs, and how animal control would be administered (the administrator said the animal-control officer would be contracted and report through planning and zoning). County staff said license revenue offsets intake costs and that higher licensing compliance could reduce net county expense.
Staff also described outreach ideas including licensing at humane-society events and better communication with veterinarians and municipalities. The administrator said the county’s 2026 budget will again include $30,000 for humane-society intakes and that staff will explore alternatives to contain costs.
No formal vote was recorded to finalize a municipal cost‑sharing arrangement; supervisors asked staff to continue outreach and to return with details for the 2026 budget process.
