Cowlitz County commissioners on Dec. 31 flagged sharply higher costs in a proposed humane society contract and agreed to convene a joint workshop with cities and the sheriff’s office to identify alternatives and possible cost-recovery measures.

Chair (Speaker 2) said the current arrangement was renewed to $9,500 a month — roughly $120,000 a year — and described a pending three-year contract that could raise costs significantly. “I haven't seen the numbers, but … it's going to be a huge increase to the county,” the chair said, adding that the county’s police chiefs and sheriff had been negotiating with the humane society.

Commissioner (Speaker 4) said the local humane organization had a near-monopoly in the area and appeared to be expanding revenue and footprint plans, describing a threefold increase proposal over five years. He urged a cautious approach to protect county funds.

Several commissioners said the county and cities have increasingly absorbed operational responsibilities that started as volunteer efforts. Chair (Speaker 2) recalled that when the prior local shelter failed, the county had established a temporary facility and recovered animals to owners at a higher-than-50% return rate; he said the county later was required by the incoming regional organization to bring animals to the regional shelter, which he said increased costs.

To address the budget and policy implications, the board agreed to pursue a workshop that would bring the county and cities together with police chiefs and the sheriff to: outline service goals, evaluate whether a nonprofit or other entity can provide the services, identify cost-sharing or fee mechanisms (including stronger owner-responsibility measures such as liens), and develop options that would limit general-fund impacts.

The chair warned the rising cost could mean “close to $1,000,000” over the term when including county officer time and other operational costs, a figure he used to convey scale rather than a precise contract total. Commissioners stressed the discussion is preliminary and no contract decision was made at the meeting.

Next steps: staff will coordinate the workshop and continue conversations with city partners and the sheriff’s office before bringing formal contract action back to the board.