Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Humane Society Contracts topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commissioners flag rising city contract numbers with humane society and ask for transparency
Summary
A commissioner raised questions about proposed increases to city contracts with the humane society (Longview ~just under $300,000; Kelso ~95k; Woodland ~17k; Castle Rock ~just under 15k), asking whether payments reflect service levels or broader nonprofit costs. Commissioners emphasized transparency about taxpayer funds and noted volunteer support for animal services.
A commissioner used the meeting’s general discussion time to flag concerns about reported increases in city-level contracts with the humane society, pressing for clarity on whether those sums are tied to direct service workload or broader organizational costs.
The commissioner read proposed contract figures mentioned to the board — Longview just under $300,000; Kelso about $95,000; Woodland roughly $17,000; Castle Rock just under $15,000 — and questioned whether the contracts were based on actual work performed or included expenses for capital projects or new executive positions. The commissioner said he supported paying for services but expressed discomfort if taxpayer funds subsidize nonoperational nonprofit expenses.
He noted that the county has relied on volunteers and outside offers to help with animal housing and services in the event that contracts are not honored, and asked staff to be transparent about funding breakdowns. No formal action or vote occurred; the discussion was framed as a request for more information and transparency going forward.
