County awaits Humane Society budget request

April 01, 2009|By HEATHER KEELS

HAGERSTOWN -- More than two months after Washington County's deadline for budget requests, the Humane Society of Washington County has not submitted a request, fueling the County Commissioners' mounting frustrations with the organization.

"The fact of the matter is, I've seen a total avoidance of not only the financial end of it, but also speaking with commissioners in general, at times," Commissioners President John F. Barr said.

Washington County's contract with the Humane Society for its animal control services obligates the county to pay a baseline sum each year, County Administrator Gregory B. Murray said. If the organization's expenses go up, it can request as much as a 4 percent increase each year, Murray said.

The county's budget office contacted Humane Society officials to remind them of the Jan. 16 deadline for such requests.

"Their comment was their budget does not coincide with ours, and when they finished it they'd get it in," county Budget and Finance Director Debra S. Murray told the commissioners at a meeting in early March.

By Tuesday's meeting, the organization still had not submitted a request, so the budget office proposed paying the baseline amount from the previous year, with no increases, Debra Murray said. That amount is $1.1 million for animal control services and $25,000 for spay/neuter services.

Humane Society Executive Director Paul Miller said by phone this week that the organization does expect higher expenses next budget year - it just doesn't know the specifics yet.

"There's been some recent developments that are causing us to look at the budget," Miller said.

For example, a law has changed regarding mandatory training for shelter employees, and the organization might have to start purchasing more of its pet food because of a reduction in donations, Miller said.

Pet supply stores have long donated pet food in ripped bags to the shelter, but one brand, Purina, recently switched to a nylon bag that doesn't rip as easily, he said. Miller said he expects other brands will follow suit.

Miller said the county's budget request deadlines don't apply to the organization because it has a contract that guarantees funding through about 2020.

"I'll get it in as soon as we get it," he said.

Barr said Miller was mistaken that the deadline doesn't apply.

"He feels that he has a contract which exempts him from proper communication with the funding source, and as head of the funding source, I disagree," he said.

Barr said previous administrations allowed the Humane Society too much autonomy, putting the county in a position where it must fund the organization but has little control over it.

Barr said he wouldn't support any funding increase for the organization this year.

"Let's face it, as tight as things are, because he didn't respond and didn't communicate, in my mind, it's a good area where we could cut," he said.

Gregory Murray said the contract requires the county to contribute at least as much funding for animal control services as it did this year. He did not know whether the spay/neuter funding was required under the contract.

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