HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 11-16-1993 - VIII-D 1
ORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Action Agenda
Item No. v, . p
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: November 16, 1993
SUBJECT: Proposal to Fund an Animal Control Officer Position.
DEPARTMENT: HEALTH PUBLIC HEARING: Yes X No
ATTACHMENT(S) : INFORMATION CONTACT:
HEALTH DIRECTOR'S OFFICE X2411
1. Proposal to Fund Animal Control
Position, Tables I-IV. TELEPHONE NUMBER:
Hillsborough -732-8181
Chapel Hill -968-4501
Mebane -227-2031
Durham -688-7331
PURPOSE:
To reconsider approval of an additional Animal Control Officer
Position to meet the increasing demands for 911, protective and
enforcement services from increases in animal control fees and
penalties and to consider Board of Health recommendations to fund the
position.
BACKGROUND:
The need for an additional position has been discussed in the
Animal Control Shelter Study Committee, the FY 94 budget work sessions
Y , q
and
the Board of Commissioners meeting of September 21, 1993. In
summary, the Animal Control Shelter Study Committee recommended that
the County Manager and Health Director resolve the impediments to
effective Animal Control enforcement; Animal Control activities have
risen by the workload of one Animal Control Officer since 90-91; and
the threat of rabies infiltration has increased the importance and
urgency of rabies control activities. At the meeting of September 21,
the Board of Commissioners postponed discussion on the proposal and
asked that the Board of Health to propose optional revenue from
increases in penalties and fees other than license fees. The aim was
to increase the service cost borne by people who violate the ordinance i?
rather than people who comply with the ordinance. At the Board of
Health meeting on October 21, 1993, Animal Control Director, Elma Rae
Greene, compared fees and penalties from Durham, Mecklenberg, Wake and
New Hanover counties to those currently charged in Orange county. The
review included the fee to redeem an animal from an animal shelter,
penalties for an animal nuisance violation, failure to vaccinate and
license and failure to wear the rabies and license tags.
2
After a lengthy discussion, the Board of Health recommended
graduating penalties as outlined in Table I and fees charged for late
payment of penalties. Table II estimates the revenue to be generated
from the proposed penalties and displays what was currently budgeted
and calculates the net increase should these penalties be approved.
The bottom line amount of $28,550 would not support the ongoing costs
of the Animal Control Officer (see Table III) . Furthermore, change's in
the Animal Control Ordinance would be required along with the adoption
of these penalties. The ordinance changes would delay the
implementation so that projected revenue would not be generated until
the subsequent fiscal year. Never-the-less, the Board of Health did
endorse these penalties and recommends them to the Board of
Commissioners for future implementation, and will return with a
proposal in the FY 95 budget request.
In order to provide funding for the Animal Control Officer for
implementation January 1, 1994 , the Board of Health endorsed a
recommendation to implement increased license fees. This proposal
would standardize the license fees for sterile animals at $5.00 and
unsterile animals at $10.00 whether the animal was a dog or cat and
provides exemptions for guide/assistance dogs and persons over 65 years
of age whose animals have been sterilized. The net gain of $36, 360,
as outlined on Table IV, would be sufficient to fund the position. In
order to meet our timetable for printing and mailing the licensing
documents, reduced rates for multiple animals would have to be
postponed to a future year.
Additional information regarding the fees and penalties will be
available at the meeting if questions arise.
RECOMMENDATION(S) : This position was included as a recommendation in
the 1993-94 Manager' s Budget. The Manager recommends the approval of
the ACO position and the new fee schedule of $5.00 for a sterile dog or
cat and $10 .00 for an unsterile dog or cat based on the following:
1. It provides a greater differential in fee structure
for sterile and unsterile dogs and cats and a greater
incentive to pursue spay and neuter procedures on the
part of animal owners.
2 . Requires the same fee for cats and dogs.
3. Provides exemptions for guide/assistance dogs and
owners over 62 years of age whose animals have been
spayed or neutered.
4 . The additional revenue offsets the increased costs in
administering the Animal Control Program.
TABLE I.
PROPOSED PENALTY & FEES FOR ORANGE COUNTY ANIMAL CONTROL
DOGS & CATS
OCCURENCE REDEMPTION FAILURE TO FAILURE TO FAILURE TO FAILURE TO NUISANCE PERMIT '
FEES VACCINATE WEAR RABIES LICENSE WEAR LICENSE VIOLATION INSPECTION
TAG TAG
1 $10.00 $100.00 $50.00 $50.00 $25.00 $25 .00 $25.00
2 $25.00 $100.00 $50.00 $50. 00 $25.00 $50.00 $25. 00
3 $50.00 $100.00 $50.00 $50.00 $25.00 $100.00 $25.00
4 $100.00 $100.00 $50.00 $50.00
$25.00 $150.00 $25.00
5 $150.00 $100.00 $50.00 $50.00
$25.00 $200.00 $25. 00
LATE FEES $50.00 $25.00 $25.0.0 $25.00
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TABLE I I
Animal Control Proposed Revenue
From Fees & Penalties 1994 - 95
ITEM PROPOSED CURRENTLY 94-95 NET INCREASE
BUDGETED IN REVENUE
Redemption Fees: No. Fee Amount
1st Violation 560 $25 $14,000
2nd Violation 70 $50 $3,500
3rd Violation 70 $75 $5,250
Subtotal $22,750 $4,200 $18,550
Penalties:
Failure to vaccinate 50 $100 $5,000,
Failure to wear rabies tag 25 $50 $1,250
Failure to license 90 $50 $4,500
Failure to wear license tag 25 $25 $625
Nuisance Violation:
1 st Violation 77 $25 $1,925
2nd Violation 9 $50 $450
3rd Violation 9 $100 $900
Subtotal $14,650 $6,000 $6,650
Late Fees: 25 $25 $625
5 $50 $250
Subtotal 25 $25 $875 $0 $875
Permit Inspection Fee 25 $25 $625 $150 $475
TOTAL $38,900 $10,350 $28,550
5
TABLE III
PROPOSAL TO FUND ANIMAL CONTROL POSITION
PROJECTED EXPENDITURES
YEAR 1 YEAR 1
6 MONTH 12 MONTH
SALARY AND
BENEFITS $13, 173 $26, 345
OPERATING $2,554 $5, 109
CAPITAL $4,207 $4 ,207
EQUIPMENT
SUBTOTAL $19,934 $31,454
CAPITAL $18,400
VEHICLE '
TOTAL COST $38, 334 $31,454
TABLE IV
PROPOSAL TO FUND ANIMAL CONTROL POSITION
REVENUE FROM ANIMAL LICENSE FEES, 1994-95
PROPOSED PROPOSED CURRENT NET
FEES REVENUE BUDGET GAIN
UNSTERILE $10 $49, 600 $30,000 $19, 600
STERILE $5 $55,200 $38,440 $16,760
TOTAL $104,800 $68,440 $36,360