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Finance committee OKs doubling of dog license fee and increase to cat license fee
Summary
The Finance Committee approved a resolution to raise Waukesha dog-license fees from $10 to $20 (and unspayed/unneutered from $15 to $25) and to increase cat licensing; staff cited roughly 1,900 dog licenses annually and estimated additional revenue of $10,000–$15,000 if volumes hold. Committee members questioned compliance rates and whether higher fees would reduce licenses.
The Waukesha City Finance Committee voted on Dec. 10 to raise dog and cat license fees, increasing spayed/neutered dog licenses from $10 to $20 and unspayed/unneutered from $15 to $25; the proposal would apply a comparable increase to cat licenses.
Tony (city staff) told the committee state law requires dogs over four months of age to be licensed and cited statutory minimum fees ($3 for spayed/neutered, $8 for unspayed/unneutered) while noting municipalities may set higher charges. Tony said the city currently issues roughly 1,900 dog licenses annually and estimated the proposed fee change could generate about $10,000–$15,000 in additional revenue if licensing volume remains steady in 2025.
Alderman Lemke raised concerns about compliance and price sensitivity, asking what portion of animals in the city are actually licensed and whether higher fees would suppress compliance. “I’m just trying to justify for the public doubling the fee,” Lemke said, noting that license revenue at the projected level would not fully cover the Hawes contract expense without additional cat-license revenue.
Alderman Piper compared Waukesha’s proposed fees to neighboring municipalities’ rates and said local financial pressures make modest revenue increases necessary. Piper moved to approve the resolution; Alderman Moulson seconded. The item passed by voice vote and was recorded as unanimous.
Staff said they already use city channels — property tax notices and social media — to remind residents about licensing, and they said they would continue outreach. Committee members agreed that enforcement, public outreach and tracking actual licensing counts will be important to evaluate the long-term revenue effects of the change.
