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Supervisors leave APAL spay/neuter funding at $15,000 after debate over county priorities
Summary
The Board of Supervisors considered a request from APAL Humane Society for $25,000 to expand low‑cost spay/neuter services. After discussion about county fiscal pressures and roads funding, supervisors voted to keep the agency’s current FY allocation at $15,000 rather than increase it.
The Board debated a supplemental funding request from APAL Humane Society and ultimately voted to leave APAL’s allocation at $15,000 for the current fiscal year.
APAL representatives told the supervisors the shelter and associated services experienced a striking increase in cats and kittens after COVID; the organization reported receiving 893 cats last year and said the county shelter accepted 356 cats in 2024 (551 in 2023). APAL requested $25,000 to expand a low‑cost spay/neuter program for county residents, allowing APAL to offer reduced fees ($40 to the public with roughly $120 vet costs absorbed by APAL) and to scale outreach into unserved areas.
Several supervisors and residents framed the request against competing county needs, in particular ongoing road maintenance shortfalls. “We have to figure out some ways to find some more money for roads,” Supervisor Brown said as part of a broader budget discussion about county priorities. Supervisor Onetto noted the practical burdens APAL and other groups face but said the county must balance multiple priorities.
In the board action sequence a supervisor initially moved to increase APAL’s allocation by $5,000 (making it $20,000) and later a motion was made to leave the planned FY allocation of $15,000 unchanged and focus county budget review on next year’s budget. The board adopted the motion to retain the $15,000 allocation; the recorded vote was 4–1 in favor of leaving funding at the budgeted level.
Ending: APAL will continue its low‑cost services with the county’s budgeted $15,000 for this fiscal year; board members signaled willingness to review allocations during next year’s budget process and encouraged APAL to pursue grants and other sources of support.
