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BOOK 94 Fpaft Chairman Macht asked if it was totally impractical to try to recover some of the costs from the owners of animals and Administrator Chandler advised of current redemption and "penalty" fees and a resultant income of approximately $6,000. Over a year ago, staff presented the possibility of increasing the fees, making a greater penalty for multiple offenders, but the Board felt that if the increases were too much, there was a possibility people would not claim the animals. It remains an alternative. Chairman Macht summarized that it was the taxpayer who had to pay for irresponsible citizens, to the tune of nearly a half a million dollars for animal control. Administrator Chandler pointed out there was only a 7.4% increase ($209,000 current budget) in the Animal Control operating expense. Commissioner Adams observed that the number of animals had remained rather constant and it seemed to her they should be paid at least at cost for the mandatory five days, because if the Humane Society was to not do it, then the County was looking at a greater responsibility/ cost for animal care. Money was the only issue; she did not know the solution. OMB Director Joe Baird explained that he was recommending, based on their 1993/94 audited numbers, to increase the fee to $30/animal which should bring them to a break-even situation. He continued that it is a difficult situation because the County is not experiencing a growth of revenues either, yet the expense demands continue. It was a tough decision to even recommend a $55,000 increase when other agencies were not increased. Commissioner Bird summarized the complicated situation, that staff was recommending that the FY 95/96 year allocation be increased by $55,073, to bring the cost per animal up to $30.15 even though the Humane Society is saying their basic cost of providing services to animals for the County is around $40. He understood the Humane Society is asking that the $40/animal figure be attained within a certain prescribed number of budget years or time, and staff is saying it was very difficult to guarantee that because of budget unknowns. If everyone could agree that $40/animal is a reasonable figure to strive to attain, then we will work towards attaining that goal. While we cannot commit to reaching that goal in one year or two years, we would work together to try to attain it. Commissioner Eggert and Chairman Macht agreed with Commissioner Bird's summarization and that a future budget commitment could not be made. 64 March 14, 1995