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The county sent a new proposal to the city last week. In it they
offer a one-year contract at $35,000, and it said that they would be
requesting 3 percent cost of living increases each year. Aldermen
asked Anderson if there was any explanation for the increase. She
reviewed some of the history that she has derived from the past
files, but she said there was nothing in the letter explaining the
increase. She said that she could not support a 25 percent increase
without knowing the reason for the big jump.
Prather agreed that there needed to be more explanation. The city
wouldn't agree to a 25 percent increase from anyone without details
or someone there to explain it. Several aldermen agreed and wondered
at the absence of any county representation to come speak about the
matter.
Anderson was asked to go back to the county and ask for a
multiyear contract with 3 percent increases each year, starting at
the current rate of $27,951.
History and background
Last fall the county proposed increasing the city animal control
fee from $27,951 a year to $44,000. The increase was based on a
study that divided the costs by community usage and added some
needed improvement costs. The study showed that animals brought in
from Lincoln represent 79 percent of the costs at the facility.
Annual expenditures at the facility have been running $126,000,
with about a $30,000 deficit after revenues, including community
contracts. The deficit is budgeted at only $21,000 this fiscal year
but was under by $45,553 in 2005.
Lincoln has been under three-year contracts with the county for
this service. They began in 1985 at $20,000 a year. 1996 saw the
only increase, going to the current rate. Both the city and the
county acknowledge that there was an agreement in the past for 3
percent increases that did not take place. The county missed
implementing that.
The city said no last fall to the $44,000 for several reasons;
one was that they wanted to see the county budgeting for a portion
of the costs.
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 Also, there were a lot of transitions taking place at the
facility that would affect its financial condition. There was a lot
of outside help kicking in, adoption organizations reducing the
population, contributions for supplies, and there were changes in
personnel and services.
According to comments from Vickie Hasprey at last week's county
board meeting, animal control administrator Dr. Michael Sanborn and
warden Julie Parker wanted the county to lower the rate to $35,000
to help the city ease into the higher rate.
The new rate is based on a study of community usage of the
facility. Lincoln represents 79 percent of the current costs.
Hasprey said last week that they would be monitoring these figures
in the coming years and look at averages over three-year periods.
County board members supported this method as fair to all the
communities.
Animal control has been running at an increasing deficit, with
the county filling in for the shortage each year. The aging facility
has several additional needs: dog cages, a truck, and the roof has
been leaking for three years.
The first proposal to the city included the extra needs. The new
rate does not. Hasprey said that they would find another means of
getting those things done over a couple of years.
The current three-year contract expires on May 31.
The city has a leash law on dogs and therefore must have a means
of keeping loose dogs off the streets.
Logan County is required by state statute to provide dog control
to unincorporated areas in the county. The county took over the
animal control facility located in Lincoln in 1985 and offers
municipalities contracts for services.
[Jan
Youngquist]
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