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Waukesha council raises dog and cat license fees by $10 to improve cost recovery
Summary
The council voted unanimously to raise sterilized-animal licenses from $10 to $20 and unaltered-animal licenses from $15 to $25, projects to raise roughly $44,000 annually toward animal impound and care costs.
The Waukesha Common Council unanimously approved a resolution to increase dog and cat license fees by $10, a change city staff said would better align fees with the city’s costs to provide impoundment and care services.
City Administrator Tony explained the current volume of licenses is about 2,150 annually and that the proposed $10 increase would raise roughly $44,000 a year. He said the city’s impoundment and care agreement with Hawes is approximately $45,623. Under the resolution, licensing for sterilized dogs and cats would increase from $10 to $20; licensing for unaltered animals would increase from $15 to $25.
Council members asked whether higher fees would disincentivize registration; Tony said he would confirm the citation amount for unlicensed animals but noted licensing remains far cheaper than enforcement fines. Staff described the usual licensing process: residents may purchase licenses at the clerk’s office, by mail, via drop box, online or at specified bank branches, and Hawes will not return an unlicensed impounded animal until the license is purchased.
The finance committee had unanimously recommended the fee increase, and council approved the resolution without recorded opposition.
