STAFF REPORT

Town Council Meeting June 26, 2008

Animal Sheltering Services (PD08-020)
Consideration of approval of contracts that extend animal sheltering services with the SPCA of Wake County until September 30, 2008 and provide for reimbursement from Wake County for associated costs for the same time period.

 

Speaker:  Deputy Chief Barry Nickalson

 

From:            Chief Pat Bazemore         
Prepared by:  Deputy Chief Barry Nickalson
Approved by:  William B. Coleman, Jr., Town Manager
Approved by:  Benjamin T. Shivar, Assistant Town Manager

Pursuant to Council direction, staff has worked with the SPCA of Wake County and the Wake County Environmental Services Division to craft 90 day contracts that effectively extends the current operating practices for animal sheltering services.  The contracts specify that the SPCA will continue to be the service provider, and that the County will reimburse the Town for expenses.

The County contract further specifies that should the three (3) animal care and welfare programs agreed upon in prior discussions be implemented, and the Town elect not to transition to the County for sheltering services, the County would no longer reimburse the Town for the sheltering costs.  If, however, the County is unable to implement the three (3) animal care and welfare programs and the Town elects to stay with the SPCA for sheltering services, the County will continue the reimbursement.

Fiscal Impact:  The SPCA’s price per animal for sheltering services has increased from $64.64 to $67.29 (a difference of $2.65).  This increase is based on the Consumer Price Index.  As the SPCA has historically done, they add the consumer price index (CPI) to the current reimbursement rate to achieve the new rate.  The CPI for the 12-month period ending December 2007 is 4.1%.  Using 2007 animal counts, the reimbursement amount for the 418 animals serviced by the SPCA totaled $27,020.  The same number of animals at the new rate would be $28,127 (a difference of $1,107).  Wake County has agreed to continue reimbursement, and will match the SPCA’s new rate.  As a result there will be no additional financial cost to the Town by signing these contracts.

Staff Recommendation:  Staff recommends that the contract for animal sheltering services with the SPCA of Wake County that covers a period from July 1, 2008 to September 30, 2008 be approved, and the contract for reimbursement for this service with Wake County covering the same timeframe be approved.