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Manager proposes raising shelter, surrender and adoption fees to curb subsidy
Summary
Staff recommended raising daily shelter care from $5 to $15, doubling adult-surrender fees to $50, restoring adoption fees to ordinance levels and tightening repeat-impound penalties to reduce the general-fund subsidy for animal services.
Staff told the council animal-management operations cost about $4 million annually but currently collect roughly $100,000'$200,000 in revenue. For specific near-term corrections they recommended four changes: raise daily shelter care from $5 to $15, increase adult animal-surrender fees from $25 to $50, restore ordinance adoption fees ($50 canines, $30 felines) and tighten the repeat-impoundment policy to discourage recurring violations.
"Right now it's costing us about $13 to shelter and care for an animal. We're charging $5," Grayson said, explaining the recommended increases are intended to better align fees with actual cost while acknowledging any change will require public education and board input prior to implementation. Several councilmembers expressed support for the staff recommendations but asked to see projected revenue impacts before the manager brings a formal resolution for adoption.
