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Kingsport council approves $150,000 increase for Pet Works; city requires documentation before final funding
Summary
The council approved a roughly $150,000 increase to Pet Works’ FY26 operating allocation (bringing it to about $550,000) and set a March 6 called meeting to ensure Pet Works provides required documentation before second reading.
The Kingsport City Council on a unanimous 6-0 vote approved a budget ordinance that would increase Pet Works’ operating allocation by roughly $150,000 for fiscal 2026, bringing the organization’s total city funding to about $550,000.
City manager said the additional funds respond to Pet Works’ presentation at a recent work session and that the ordinance’s numeric chart contains an error that will be corrected on second reading, but that the ordinance amount itself is correct. "Upon your approval, we would increase their budget approximately a $150,000 for operating expenditures," the city manager said. He also said several items must be provided to the city manager’s office before the council takes the item up for second reading and recommended a called meeting on Friday, March 6, to expedite the process.
The city attorney clarified legal authorities after a question about whether animal control is a charter responsibility, saying animal control is specifically referenced in the city code though it may not be enumerated as a charter duty: "There are specific references to animal control, however, in the code of ordinance," the city attorney said. When asked what would happen if Pet Works failed to deliver the requested materials, the city manager said he had spoken with John Campbell of the Pet Works board and that he was "very confident that the items that are listed here will be provided to us." He also cautioned there are a number of steps and potential consequences that could occur before the city itself assumed direct animal-control responsibilities.
Vice Mayor Duncan moved approval of the ordinance and Alderman Baker seconded. The motion passed on voice vote and was recorded by roll call as 6-0.
Next steps: council staff will collect the documents requested of Pet Works and meet on March 6 to review them ahead of the next budget reading; if Pet Works does not provide the required items by that date, the city manager said staff would evaluate alternatives and next steps.
