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BARC shelter’s budget, staffing and one‑time cleaning contract draw council scrutiny
Summary
Director Tina Paez said the FY‑26 BARC budget proposal relies on a $12.9 million general fund transfer but removes a one‑time kennel‑cleaning contract; councilmembers and the director described staffing shortages and a plan to pursue nonprofit partners and consulting support for long‑term improvements.
The Houston Animal Shelter (BARC) will receive a proposed FY‑26 transfer from the general fund of $12.9 million, a funding stream that Director Tina Paez told councilmembers represents roughly 46% of ARA’s general fund budget. Paez and councilmembers discussed operations, staffing shortages and a one‑time kennel cleaning contract that is not in the FY‑26 baseline.
Paez said the previous administration and a subsequent budget amendment provided money for a vendor to perform kennel cleaning and that the contract addressed safety and adoptability issues arising when shelter staff had to perform both caregiving and intensive cleaning duties. She described staff injuries and animals becoming aggressive when employees…
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