McPaw asks McCall for higher annual contract, council signals intent to add modest increase while deferring final decision

Courtney (last name not specified), Executive Director of McPaw animal shelter, told the McCall City Council during its budget work session that the shelter seeks a higher annual contract and the ability to plan on a multi‑year agreement. McPaw requested a $50,000 annual city contract with a proposed 3% annual increase if the council adopted a three‑year contract; city staff and council discussed legal limits on multi‑year commitments under Idaho practice and the need for a non‑appropriation clause.

Courtney summarized the shelter's service levels and finances: McPaw reported serving about 707 animals last year across adoptions, return‑to‑owner, community clinic, trap‑neuter‑release and emergency sheltering. The shelter said its cost of care per animal rose nearly 80% over three years to roughly $44 per day (calculated from shelter operating costs, length of stay and intake), and that hiring a veterinarian reduced average in‑shelter length of stay to 12.25 days in May. Courtney called the February case involving five sled dogs (held about 70 days) a case study in why consistent contract funding matters and said McPaw used a mix of third‑party transfers and a Home‑to‑Home program to reduce intake.

Council members pressed for more detail on McPaw's finances and outreach to partner jurisdictions. Courtney said she had presented to Valley County and requested an increase there; she has also contacted the cities of Donnelly and Cascade and several counties in the region but had not received firm commitments from many jurisdictions. McPaw's staff clarified that a large positive amount reported on its 2024 profit‑and‑loss statement reflected the release of restricted capital funds tied to a veterinary clinic renovation, not operating cash; Courtney said the shelter's operating fund balance was about $40,000 and that bookkeeping changes from the prior year had complicated the audited presentation.

Council members discussed options. One councilor noted Idaho practice discourages multi‑year municipal debt without a non‑appropriation clause; staff agreed a three‑year contract would likely need such language to allow annual appropriation decisions. Several council members said they favored a conservative, city‑budget‑wide approach: council members signaled support for a modest increase of 3% applied to the city's existing contribution (historically about $40,000) to keep the request proportional to other budget demands but declined to authorize a multi‑year commitment without contract protections and clearer partner commitments. No formal motion or vote on a contract amendment was taken at the session; staff was directed to include McPaw's request in the FY26 budget materials and return with any revised contract language or options for council approval.

Courtney said McPaw would continue outreach to Valley County and other jurisdictions and that the county's current contract (about $25,000) covered far less than the county's share of intakes. Council members encouraged McPaw to pursue additional partners and suggested staff help with contract language to allow the city to plan while preserving annual appropriation control.

Ending: The council did not adopt a contract or appropriation at the work session. Instead members signaled support in principle for a modest increase (a 3% adjustment on the city's historic $40,000 contribution was discussed) and asked staff to return with recommended contract language and final budget numbers at the July budget meeting.