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Selma council approves $6,000 city match for local spay-and-neuter voucher program
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Summary
The Selma City Council approved a one-time $6,000 match to double private donations for a local spay-and-neuter voucher program aimed at reducing pet overpopulation. Council and public speakers emphasized keeping the vouchers redeemable with local veterinarians and monthly accountability reporting.
The Selma City Council on April 21 approved Resolution 2026-36R to provide up to $6,000 in city matching funds for a locally run spay-and-neuter voucher program, effectively doubling a private donation pool to about $12,000 for Selma residents.
Director of Community Services (spoke at the meeting) described the program as a neighborhood-focused effort run through the Selma Animal Shelter, with existing donations of $4,000 from Cal Water, $1,000 from Total Local Market, $200 from Les Schwab and $1,000 identified in the current budget. "We're just looking for city council approval to assist with this program and basically double our monies to make sure that we're able to provide spay and neuter and TNR within our community," the director said.
Public commenters, longtime volunteers and local advocates urged the council to keep the program local. Rose Robertson, a Selma resident, asked that the vouchers be redeemable at Selma clinics so revenue remains in the city: "We want to make sure it goes back to the same vets from Selma," she said. The city responded that staff has been coordinating with local clinics and that the program will prioritize local providers.
Council members asked staff to include eligibility safeguards and regular reporting. Councilmember [name/title as recorded in the transcript] asked whether the program would be strictly for Selma residents; staff confirmed residents must provide identification or utility bills to qualify. Mayor Robertson requested monthly tracking of outcomes: "I would like to follow this every month. I'd like to see the number of spays and neuters," the mayor said, noting the $12,000 is a single-year allocation and that continued oversight is important.
Council also discussed implementation details including whether licenses or vaccinations would be required; staff said dog licensing would be encouraged and that cat licensing is not currently required. Program administrators plan outreach through the animal shelter and social-media sign-ups; staff said trapping supplies and TNR (trap-neuter-return) logistics are being considered.
The resolution passed by roll call vote. Council directed staff to prioritize local veterinarians for voucher redemption and to return with a usage report to the council after the first round of services.
Next steps: staff will finalize program mechanics, confirm participating local clinics and provide the council with monthly utilization and accounting reports until the one-time funds are expended.
