MONROE - The City of Monroe budgeted $35,000 for the Green County Humane Society in 2013, but no changes have been made yet to a current contract that includes the use of a small, aging building as an animal shelter in the 1600 block of 6th Avenue.
The city intends to ride out the 2012 contract, according to City Administrator Phil Rath, and may consider renegotiating services when the Humane Society "no longer needs the city's building."
The GCHS expects to move into its new facility early next year, where it can accommodate more animals. Once that occurs, GCHS no longer would have upkeep of the current building, and the city would no longer be responsible to GCHS for the building maintenance.
But holding back any funding to GCHS is not expected.
"The city wants to work with the humane society," Rath said.
The city has not discussed what to do with the old shelter building once it is empty, said Brooke Bauman, chairman of the city's public property committee.
But Rath said the $35,000 is in the council-approved budget for the city to use as it sees fit for services the Human Society renders to the city. Those services consist mainly of sheltering and feeding stray animals found within the city's boundaries. The society received $22,500 from the city last year.
The society receives funding from the county also. For 2013, the county budgeted $47,485 for the Humane Society services. About $11,000 of that comes from the sale of dog licenses; the rest, $36,485, is levied from taxes - but not on Monroe property owners. Green County Finance Director Rhonda Hunter said when she apportions the taxes, the Humane Society cost does not go on Monroe tax bills.
The county uses the minimum dog licensing fees set by state law: $4 for neutered and spayed pets; $9 for unneutered and spayed animals, annually.
But in the City of Monroe, the cost of an annual dog license is $9 if your dog is spayed or neutered and $29 if unaltered. The city expected to raise about $1,500 in dog license fees in 2012 and $25 in cat licenses. The city brought in $1,800 for dog licenses and $120 for cat licenses in 2009, and $1,600 for dog license and $75 for cat licenses in 2010.
Cat owners in Monroe may obtain a license for the purposes of identification and safety for a one-time fee. Licenses are obtained through the city treasurer's office at the city hall.
An untagged dog or cat in the city is considered a stray.
The City of Monroe does not have a specified animal control officer.
"The police or, more often, individual citizens catch them, and we are called in after the fact," Rath said.
The Humane Society - a no-kill shelter - keeps impounded animals at the shelter for seven days for the owner to claim, after paying impound and boarding fees. The Humane Society may adopt unclaimed animals.
The city intends to ride out the 2012 contract, according to City Administrator Phil Rath, and may consider renegotiating services when the Humane Society "no longer needs the city's building."
The GCHS expects to move into its new facility early next year, where it can accommodate more animals. Once that occurs, GCHS no longer would have upkeep of the current building, and the city would no longer be responsible to GCHS for the building maintenance.
But holding back any funding to GCHS is not expected.
"The city wants to work with the humane society," Rath said.
The city has not discussed what to do with the old shelter building once it is empty, said Brooke Bauman, chairman of the city's public property committee.
But Rath said the $35,000 is in the council-approved budget for the city to use as it sees fit for services the Human Society renders to the city. Those services consist mainly of sheltering and feeding stray animals found within the city's boundaries. The society received $22,500 from the city last year.
The society receives funding from the county also. For 2013, the county budgeted $47,485 for the Humane Society services. About $11,000 of that comes from the sale of dog licenses; the rest, $36,485, is levied from taxes - but not on Monroe property owners. Green County Finance Director Rhonda Hunter said when she apportions the taxes, the Humane Society cost does not go on Monroe tax bills.
The county uses the minimum dog licensing fees set by state law: $4 for neutered and spayed pets; $9 for unneutered and spayed animals, annually.
But in the City of Monroe, the cost of an annual dog license is $9 if your dog is spayed or neutered and $29 if unaltered. The city expected to raise about $1,500 in dog license fees in 2012 and $25 in cat licenses. The city brought in $1,800 for dog licenses and $120 for cat licenses in 2009, and $1,600 for dog license and $75 for cat licenses in 2010.
Cat owners in Monroe may obtain a license for the purposes of identification and safety for a one-time fee. Licenses are obtained through the city treasurer's office at the city hall.
An untagged dog or cat in the city is considered a stray.
The City of Monroe does not have a specified animal control officer.
"The police or, more often, individual citizens catch them, and we are called in after the fact," Rath said.
The Humane Society - a no-kill shelter - keeps impounded animals at the shelter for seven days for the owner to claim, after paying impound and boarding fees. The Humane Society may adopt unclaimed animals.