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Franklin County Humane Society asks fiscal court for $110,000 annual contract to avert service termination
Summary
The Franklin County Humane Society told the fiscal court it has served notice to end its animal-control contract effective Oct. 1 unless the county agrees to raise annual payment to about $110,000 to cover rising costs of care and staffing. The court heard comparative budget figures and signaled willingness to renegotiate.
The Franklin County Humane Society told the county fiscal court on Sept. 11 that it has served formal notice of its intent to terminate the service contract unless the two sides reach a new agreement by the organization—s deadline.
"On July 1, the Humane Society served notice of our intention to terminate our service contract with the Franklin County fiscal court, due to our inability to reach a new service agreement," said Carrie Lowry, executive director of the Humane Society. She told the court the organization is seeking an annual fee of $110,000, up from roughly $74,000 the county currently pays.
Court members pressed for details about the existing agreement and the figure the Society requested. A court member stated the contract base figure is $49,000 with CPI adjustments and that the contract was last amended on 09/09/2015; with CPI the county—s obligation under that document is roughly $66,000. Carrie Lowry said the Society—s board voted to serve notice after county budget decisions were made without the Humane Society—s participation.
Lowry outlined what the county funds and what the Society covers: the Society currently employs eight full-time and three part-time staff; provides intake exams, core vaccinations and veterinary services via two contract shelter veterinarians; and holds many animals beyond the minimal seven-day statutory stray hold. She said the Society—s average length of stay is about 21 days for dogs and 18 days for cats and that those care costs and rising wage levels drove the request.
Lowry said roughly 65% of intakes are stray animals, about half coming from the city and half from the county, and that the county—s current contribution represents about 20% of the Society—s operating budget. The Society also operates a thrift store that, Lowry said, produces roughly $200,000 in net revenue a year and is not funded by city or county dollars.
The Society presented fiscal-year comparative budgets for similarly sized jurisdictions to show how Franklin County—s support compares. Lowry said the $110,000 request is intended to be a stable, renewing contract level and not a recurring annual ask: "We don't want to be here every year asking for money." She emphasized the facility—s 95% live-release rate and the private funds used to build the new Companion Place facility.
Several fiscal court members voiced support for renegotiation. One member suggested convening a working group to meet with the Humane Society before the October deadline so the county does not find itself without an animal-control provider. The court did not take a formal vote on the matter at the Sept. 11 work session.
Next steps: court members asked staff to locate and circulate the current contract, clarify the county—s fiscal exposure for court-related holds and to arrange negotiations between the court and the Society ahead of the Oct. 1 deadline.
