Indianapolis Animal Care Services presents 2026 budget; new shelter slated for March 31, 2026 completion

Nick Roberts, the committee’s acting chair and Councilor for District 4, opened the Sept. 9 Community Affairs Committee meeting for the Indianapolis City-County Council to hear a 2026 budget presentation from Indianapolis Animal Care Services and its new leadership.

Amanda Dehoney Hinkle, director of Indianapolis Animal Care Services, told the committee the agency is presenting its first budget as an independent agency and outlined operations metrics, staffing and goals tied to a new shelter scheduled to be complete March 31, 2026, with an anticipated public move-in by May 2026. James Van Layson, the agency’s new chief financial officer, reviewed character-level budget changes and said most revenue will continue to come from consolidated county general funds, kennel and adoption fees, and revenue recovery.

Why this matters: The budget and new facility will change operating costs and revenue streams for the city’s municipal animal shelter while the council and the agency discuss whether to resume a $60 adoption fee set by council ordinance and how any fee revenue should be directed.

The presentation and discussion

Dehoney Hinkle said the new shelter will total about 60,300 square feet, with 234 dog kennels (182 indoor-outdoor), 10 indoor public visitation rooms, a single indoor dog play area, five puppy kennels, 12 outdoor dog-run kennels, a 3,200-square-foot meet-and-greet dog park area, about…