ASHLAND — The Ashland County commissioners have been keeping the dog shelter open by paying an average of $39,500 a year since 2019.
But a recent transfer of $130,251 from the general fund to the dog shelter has the auditor concerned.
Last week, Ashland County commissioners unanimously approved a transfer of $130,251 to keep the new dog shelter operational through the rest of the year — the largest in the dog shelter’s history.
Commissioners attributed this year’s lack of dog license renewals, higher utility bills and higher wages to the shelter’s shortfall. The transfer came out of the county’s general fund, a practice that commissioner Denny Bittle said is typical.
“Most counties do contribute to the dog shelter out of their general fund,” he said.
But not that much, said commissioner Jim Justice.
“I would hope that (Ohio counties) aren’t contributing $130,000. That’s two-thirds of the year that we’re picking up,” Justice said. “So we need to make some changes to make sure that things happen so we can more easily break even.”
Ashland County Auditor Cindy Funk said the $39,500 transfer each year since 2019 was likely doable.
“But those transfers didn’t usually happen until October or so. But we’re already in April and you’re already saying you need $130,000? … That’s a lot more money,” she said.
Crunching the numbers
County records show a total of $197,655.70 in transfers to the dog shelter from 2019-2023.
The shelter has paid back $53,700 of that amount, marked as a “credit” in the county’s spreadsheet keeping track of the money.
The recent $130,251 transfer makes the new total a whopping $327,906.70 that has come out of the general fund to keep the dog shelter operational.
The dog shelter’s overall budget heading into this year was set at $218,297, according to county records.
Dog license fees amount to 84% of the shelter’s revenue.
County records show there are 943 dog licenses that have not been renewed for 2024. It means there’s a $33,948 shortfall, because each one-year license costs $18 and each renewal would be charged another $18 fee for a total of $36.
Dog owners are able to renew licenses from December to January each year. During that window of time, they have the option of renewing tags for one year or more without paying a late fee of $18.
Other streams of income include municipal court fines (fees dog owners pay when taken to court for not licensing their pets), gifts and donations and “redeem-and-release” (adoption fees).
Expenses include wages, insurance, utilities, supplies, repairs and other miscellaneous costs. The 2024 budget appropriated $252,450. As of April, the dog shelter is already at 52% of its projected expenses.
The shelter budgeted $145,000 for wages this year, which pays for three full-time and three part-time positions.
When Funk ran the numbers, she suggested commissioners transfer $130,251 to cover expenses through the end of the year.
“It’s just enough,” she said, “and that’s without emergencies that could come up.”
The county has been making utility payments on the new, $3 million dog shelter since June 2023, according to county records.
Since then, the county has paid $18,477.53 in utility bills — including water, natural gas and electricity — for an average of $1,679.77 per month.
That’s compared to $9,544.81 paid in utilities at the old dog shelter during a similar timeframe — a 93% increase.
‘We can afford to operate’
The dog shelter does not make any debt payments. Construction of the building was covered by American Rescue Plan Act money and capital improvement funds.
Commissioner Bittle is confident the dog shelter will get on its feet.
“We can afford to operate,” he said. “That’s not the issue.”
The new shelter, when built, included a 2-3,000 square-foot space that officials hope to lease to a veterinary office or grooming salon. Bittle said he expects the space to be leased sometime this year.
“That will more than cover all the utilities,” he said, adding the utility bills aren’t any more than he expected.
He said Homeward Bound, a nonprofit in charge of fundraising the money needed to build and maintain the shelter, has continued to donate items. Most recently, the organization donated a $2,000 dog bath, he said.
The group is also looking into costs for cameras, dog bite gloves and two cages used to transport dogs to the shelter.
“(Homeward Bound) continues to donate a lot to us. The partnership has worked out well,” Bittle said.