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Supervisors press city on animal-services cost-sharing as county fee study proceeds
Summary
Board members flagged that the county is carrying the bulk of animal-control costs while the City of Madera pays significantly less; staff said a city-county fee study is underway with results targeted for fall/winter and that the county is updating a 2018 study to determine fair shares.
During the June 9 budget hearing, Madera County supervisors and Animal Services Director Amy Toller raised concerns about cost-sharing with cities for animal-control services and asked administration to accelerate a fee study to quantify the county's costs.
Director Amy Toller presented the animal services recommended budget of $2,166,006.51, saying the department faces spending increases while reducing net county cost by roughly $70,009 compared with the prior year. The budget lists 20 allocated positions, of which two are unfunded.
Toller told the board that the City of Chowchilla largely manages its own shelter and relies on county assistance for some programs, while the City of Madera does not operate a shelter and sends animals to the county facility. She said the City of Madera pays approximately $180,000 per year but accounts for about 40% of animals brought to the county facility; Toller said the county therefore bears a disproportionate share of medical and euthanasia costs. When asked for an exact city-to-county cost breakdown, Toller said a fee study is underway and current detailed cost figures are not yet available.
Supervisor reaction and next steps Several supervisors urged administration to press the cities for equitable cost-sharing and to consider contractual or termination options in existing agreements. Administration noted a six-month cancellation clause exists in the county's agreement with the City of Madera and said the county could exercise that clause after completing financial analysis.
County administration and Community and Economic Development staff said they are working with consultant NBS on a countywide fee study, with an expected presentation to the board in fall or winter 2025. Joel Begay told the board administration could also update a county 2018 animal-shelter study to avoid duplicative consultant work and provide an interim cost estimate sooner.
Why it matters: supervisors framed the animal-services imbalance as a potential near-term fix for budget shortfalls. Board members suggested that more accurate city-county billing could materially reduce county general-fund pressure and asked for an expedited, data-driven analysis to inform negotiations.
Clarifying details from the hearing - Animal Services recommended expenditures: $2,166,006.51 (CAO presentation). - Allocated positions in the animal-services budget: 20, two unfunded (per CAO/department statements). - City of Madera annual payment referenced by staff: about $180,000; county staff said the city accounts for about 40% of intake volume. - Fee study vendor: NBS (county staff said goal is board consideration in fall/winter 2025). The county will review and may update its 2018 internal study to provide interim figures.
No formal action taken The board requested updated fee-study results, asked staff to prepare share-of-cost analyses, and directed administration to begin direct outreach with city officials. No contract changes or formal intergovernmental agreements were approved at the hearing.
Ending Administration said it would return with the NBS fee-study results and a county analysis that will break down intake volumes, per-animal medical costs and the cost impact of city payments. Supervisors emphasized urgency given the county's narrowed fund balance and asked staff for timelines that could support near-term negotiations or agreement changes.
