Agency presents 2026 budget, new shelter plan and staffing update

James Finlayson, chief financial officer for Bridal Care Services, presented the agency—s 2026 budget and an update on a new shelter during a meeting of Indianapolis City officials.

Finlayson said the agency is organized into four divisions including shelter, placement, medical and operations, and reported 16 open vacancies. "We've been very very good at hiring this year and keeping people," he said, and noted the agency has improved foster placements and reduced the severity and frequency of workplace injuries.

Finlayson described programmatic results for the prior year, including an increase in high-risk transfers and a live-release rate that rose to 91 percent from 84 percent the previous year. He said the agency has expanded field work such as community-focused microchipping and reduced average response time from four days to one day and 14 hours.

On the shelter, Finlayson provided a facilities overview and capacity figures. He said the new facility includes about 234 total dog kennels, 182 of which are indoor/outdoor, 80 cat cages, five separate puppy kennels, 12 outdoor dog runs, 10 public visitation rooms, indoor and outdoor group cat play areas, a medical suite and isolation areas, a two-acre barn and pasture, and a roughly 2,400-foot walking path. "We're very excited," Finlayson said, adding that the project was "still on track to be complete March '26" and the agency is "aiming at moving in by May."

Finlayson said the overall agency budget declined by about $114,000 from the prior year, which he attributed in part to citywide cuts and to the agency—s first year operating as an independent budget unit with costs reallocated to where they are actually incurred. He noted a small personnel increase that includes a 2.6 percent cost-of-living adjustment for staff (excluding the director), health insurance increases and higher workers' compensation charges.

On revenue, Finlayson said the agency collects nominal amounts from kennel fees, animal ID and removal fees and expects some surplus-sales revenue as it moves out of the current building. He said the agency has not been aggressive in pursuing some fees and that the Office of Public Management's (OPM) revenue-recovery efforts also contribute to collections.

Finlayson outlined changes across budget characters: a $100,000 reduction in supplies; a roughly $131,000 increase in professional services attributed primarily to building-related payments such as rent; and a net change in fleet and chargeback costs. He said the city cumulative fund is used for capital purchases such as vehicles and that the agency plans to replace older non-ACO vehicles next year.

The presentation closed with Finlayson saying the agency will focus next year on completing the shelter move, expanding volunteer programming, and improving data and reporting to better track outcomes.

No formal action on the budget was recorded during the portion of the meeting covered in the transcript.