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Board raises animal‑service and price‑verification fees, keeping hardship waivers and some free services
Summary
After a public hearing, the Board approved updates to the Consumer & Environmental Protection Agency fee schedule including higher spay/neuter rates for private owners and increased inspection fees for price‑verification systems, with waivers for hardship and continued free community cat sterilizations.
The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday adopted an adjustment to several Consumer & Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) fees to bring rates closer to cost recovery.
SEPA staff explained the changes during a public hearing and said the increases were prompted by rising program costs and a long delay — about 14 years — in updating some fees. The action included higher proposed rates for: spay/neuter services offered by the county animal services clinic to private pet owners (the county will continue free spay/neuter for animals in the county shelter and walk‑in community cat sterilizations), and higher inspection fees tied to price‑verification inspections of retail scan/price‑check systems.
Staff highlighted that county clinics will continue free spay/neuter for animals under the agency’s care and that fee waivers will be available for hardship cases. Departments compared county proposed surgical prices to private‑market base prices and noted county charges still undercut full private costs because county services often include vaccinations, microchipping and other items at no extra charge.
Supervisors asked for an annual fee review cadence and said staff should return next year to report on the effect of the spay/neuter changes; they also asked for outreach and promotional materials so residents know when and how county services are available. The board voted to adopt the fee changes unanimously.
