Weatherford approves interlocal agreement with Parker County to raise county’s animal‑shelter payments over three years

Weatherford — The City Council voted to authorize the city manager to enter a revised interlocal agreement (ILA) with Parker County on animal‑shelter services that will increase Parker County’s annual contribution on a phased three‑year schedule and include updated fee calculations based on the county’s prior‑year intake.

City staff presented background showing Parker County currently pays $729,000 per year under the existing ILA and accounts for roughly 70 percent of shelter intake. Under the proposed agreement, next year’s fee would be calculated from county intake during FY‑25, with an 80 percent step‑up in year one, 90 percent in year two and full cost recovery in the third year. Staff showed a projected FY‑26 county contribution of roughly $856,000 under the new formula while explaining that an immediate 100 percent step would produce a payment exceeding $1 million; the stepped approach gives Parker County time to “catch up.”

Why it matters: Parker County brings the majority of animals to the Weatherford shelter, and the city has been subsidizing the difference between intake and payments, leaving the municipal budget to support roughly half the shelter’s budget. The updated ILA moves expenses toward a cost‑recovery model and is intended to fund additional staff and facility improvements.

Details and council direction: Staff said the FY‑26 budget already includes two new shelter positions — an animal control officer and an animal care technician — and that the increased county revenue will offset those personnel costs. The city also has ongoing kennel and facility renovations under construction; staff said rising county contributions will help reduce the drain on cash reserves for those capital improvements. The city sent a termination notice under the old ILA (required by the contract) and has been in discussions with Parker County; staff described the negotiations as cooperative, not adversarial.

Council action: The motion to authorize the city manager to enter the new ILA was made by Councilmember Heidi Wilder, seconded by Councilmember Zach Smith and passed on a council vote. The council directed staff to finalize the agreement consistent with the stepped approach described by staff.

Outstanding items: Staff said Parker County commissioners had discussed the matter and continued talks were planned; the new ILA will include fee calculations tied to prior‑year intake and will not charge the county for revenues or animal control salaries, per staff presentation.