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Residents urge return of $1 million gift to animal shelter; council members say donated funds remain dedicated
Summary
Public speakers said a $1 million donation intended for the Sierra Vista Animal Shelter was reallocated by city management; council members responded that the donor funds remain dedicated to the shelter and that city budgetary funds were substituted back into the general fund.
Multiple residents told the Sierra Vista City Council on Feb. 27 that a $1 million donation intended for the city animal shelter had been reallocated and should be returned to the shelter.
Speakers at the council’s public-comment period urged the council to honor the donor’s intent and criticized city management for redirecting funds. Diane Connors, Misty Briceno and Joanna Polley each described the $1 million gift and said the donor, identified in comments as Betty Olsen, should be publicly recognized and that the donation should be used for expanded shelter space and related functions.
"Betty's name should be known and the expand and there should be the extra expansion for what Betty's money should go for," Diane Connors said during public comment, urging recognition and that donor funds be…
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