Humane Society to Take Bigger Bite of City Funds
Posted on: Tuesday, 18 October 2005, 21:00 CDT
By Rick Ruggles
The Nebraska Humane Society anticipates a 57 percent increase in city money in 2006 to cover animal-control costs.
The Humane Society plans to receive $550,000 from the City of Omaha next year, up from the current $350,000.
Humane Society administrators say they need more money to help cover the services in the society's contract with the City of Omaha. Those include stray animal pickups and housing, licensing, cruelty investigations, dead animal pickups, dangerous animal captures and other services.
The Mayor's Office agrees. Jennifer Mahlendorf, the mayor's deputy chief of staff, said the City Finance Department audited the Humane Society's records this year. The current $350,000 city payout, which comes from the keno fund, isn't adequate for services provided, Mahlendorf said.
She said the city is talking with society administrators about supplementing the 2005 amount. She wouldn't speculate about how much more might be allocated to the society for this year.
The proposed $550,000 is in the city's 2006 budget. The threeyear contract with the Humane Society calls for city money to increase to $580,000 in 2007 and $600,000 in 2008.
The funding proposal is on first reading before the City Council today and probably will not be discussed. Discussion typically occurs during the public hearing, which is set for next Tuesday. The council's vote is scheduled for Nov. 1.
Councilman Chuck Sigerson said he had no problem with allocating $550,000 to the Humane Society next year.
"They do a tremendous public service," Sigerson said. "For what we get for the money, it's just a huge bargain."
Denise Nosek, the Humane Society's chief financial officer, said animal-control services provided for Omaha will cost about $2.3 million this year. The society will generate about $1.85 million from license fees, fees to claim a lost pet, boarding fees and other fees. The city's money does not cover the balance, so the society draws from its obedience-class funds, gift shop and other sources, Nosek said.
The Humane Society, based at 8929 Fort St., received $350,000 from the city over each of the past three years, including 2005. Nosek said the Humane Society appreciated the city's financial difficulties during that time but said the society needs an increase.
Mark Langan, the society's vice president for field operations, said all of the agency's 12 trucks have more than 100,000 miles on them and two have more than 220,000. Two or more new trucks are needed. They cost $30,000 each when equipped with cages and other accessories for animal control.
The Humane Society covers Omaha and Sarpy County. The agency has a separate contract with Sarpy County.
Source: Omaha World - Herald
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