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Davis County OKs $8,500 feasibility study to seek private funding for animal care facility
Summary
The Davis County Commission approved an $8,500 Phase 1 contract with Pathway Group to conduct a fundraising feasibility study for the county animal care facility, aiming to identify private donors and reduce pressure on the tax base. The vote was recorded as passing in the meeting transcript.
The Davis County Commission voted to authorize a Phase 1 fundraising feasibility study with the Pathway Group, approving $8,500 to test the communitys readiness for private philanthropy to supplement county funding for animal care.
Michelle Hicks, director of Animal Care, told commissioners the study would build a case for support, identify potential outside donors and corporate sponsors, and produce a roadmap that could reduce reliance on taxpayer dollars. "Phase 1 is this discovery period where we test the communitys readiness, build our case for support, and do some fact finding and interviews," Hicks said, noting the consultant structured the work in three phases.
The proposed phased approach lists Phase 1 at about $8,500, with later phases increasing the total cost (the full multi-phase proposal was discussed in the packet). Commissioners debated whether to authorize a smaller initial sum to test traction: one commissioner suggested starting at "between $5,000 and $8,000," while Hicks and staff advised that $8,500 represented the consultants full Phase 1 scope and would deliver the interviews and written case for support.
Supporters emphasized the potential return if the study leads to sustained private giving; one commissioner said similar feasibility efforts nationwide have raised millions. Skeptics urged caution, with the chair noting that commissioners and volunteers sometimes can accomplish components internally. Hicks responded that consultants often bring experience and scale and that the recommended Phase 1 would produce specific deliverables.
Commissioner (Speaker 4) moved to approve Item 1 at $8,500 for Phase 1; Commissioner (Speaker 6) seconded. The chair called the vote and the motion passed (the meeting transcript records the result as "2 to 3, the motion passes"). Item 1 was recorded as passed.
The study will proceed on the Phase 1 timetable described by Pathway Group; next steps include staff-commission work sessions to review the discovery findings before any decision to proceed with later phases.
