If anyone would like to know the City of Sedonas response to the statement made by the HSS re the 3 year contract and hear the other side, here it is: HSS STATEMENT: AS OF JULY 1ST THE SHELTER NO LONGER RECEIVES FUNDING OR SUPPORT FROM THE CITY OF SEDONA. CITY RESPONSE: The City offered the Humane Society (HSS) a new agreement at $47,500 per year to help support their operations. HSS notified the City on June 30, 2014, the last day of the previous agreement, that they did not intend to continue the contractual relationship. It was the Humane Societys decision not to accept funding from the City, not the Citys decision to no longer fund HSS. HSS: WHY? At the time of our contract renewal, we asked the city for $95,000, about half the cost to service the animals of the city of Sedona. The City of Sedona declined our offer, without negotiation and insisted on a three-year contract with NO COST INCREASE for the care of the animals. CITY OF SEDONA: The Citys Service Contract Review Committee recommended HSS receive the same amount as last years contract because when they compared that contract to other local government/humane society contracts, they found that the others are paying between $70 - $82.50 per animal while Sedona is paying HSS $145.26 per animal, approximately double the others. The Committee did not believe the City could justify going any higher with the per animal cost, and certainly not anywhere near the Humane Societys request of $249 per animal when the next highest amount was $82. HSS: Within the contract, the City of Sedona offered to pay only 25% of the total cost per animal HSS incurs to care for them until they are adopted. This equates to $47,500 annually. They offered no increase this year with a 1.7% inflation increase for years 2 and 3. CITY OF SEDONA: The cost comparison also showed that most humane societies receive some revenues from local governments, and those cover about 13% of their costs. The City of Sedona is already paying 25% of HSS costs for animals coming from within the City of Sedona limits. Again, much higher than the comps. HSS: This contract was unacceptable to the shelter because it would not allow us to continue to provide the high quality of care to Sedona residents and their pets-the type of care they want and deserve. CITY OF SEDONA: The City does support several non-profits and the services they provide our citizens, including the library, community center, recycling center, YMCA, and humane society. The City supports these organizations overall missions through financial contributions, but only a portion. It is not reasonable to assume that the City could possibly fund 50% of all of the costs of the library, community center, YMCA or recycling center even though its residents use those services. HSS says it cant provide services if the City only gives them $47,500, but they refused any city support. Is it better for the animals and their services to accept nothing? HSS: It is our understanding every other city service contractor received an increase with the exception of HSS. To date we have received NO response as to why we were not provided the same consideration and increase as ALL other contract services. CITY OF SEDONA: The Service Contract Review Committee analyzed each funding request on its own merit. The other organizations justified the increases that are being recommended. The Committee, as was explained previously, could not justify any additional funding for this contract. HSS: The City is LEGALLY required to provide animal sheltering services. CITY OF SEDONA: This is false. The City is legally required to house the animals it collects through animal control, about 40 animals per year. And this is only because the City chooses to provide an animal control function. Cities are not required to do animal control at all. HSS: Without negotiating or conversation and with YOUR TAX DOLLARS the City of Sedona will now have to contract with a facility OUTSIDE OF SEDONA to provide animal care services to Sedona residents and now will no longer support YOUR shelter. CITY OF SEDONA: The City is now working with Verde Valley Humane Society (VVHS) to shelter animals collected through the Citys animal control. This was done as a temporary emergency measure, when the Humane Society informed the City, on June 30, 2014, that it did not intend to renew its contractual agreement with the City that was due to begin the next day. However, that negotiation with VVHS has resulted in more than a 50% savings to our taxpayers over what the City was paying per animal to the Sedona Humane Society. HSS: HOW THIS AFFECTS YOU. All strays and owner surrenders will need to go to a location specified by the city UNLESS you are willing to pay a surrender fee to HSS to care for the animal. Over the past year HSS has provided: • 500 NO cost spay and neuter surgeries ($50,000 cost) • 400 LOW cost spay and neuter surgeries ($20,000 cost) • 220 Low cost vaccinations ($4,000 cost) • 500 microchips for quicker identification of lost pets ($3,500 cost) • FeLV and FIV testing for all felines ($3,000 cost) • An increase in offsite adoption events, which has increased the live release rate to 95% (on average) vs. 84% from the prior year. HSS will have to significantly cut back on all of these essential and life saving services for Sedona residents and their pets. CITY OF SEDONA: Over 600 of a total 929 animals taken in by HSS in 2013 came from the unincorporated areas of Yavapai and Coconino County and the burden of caring for those animals falls solely on HSS with those local governments failing to contribute anything financially to support those services/animals. Meanwhile the City is subsidizing animals coming in from the City by 25%. HSS now wants 50% funded by the City while the other animals coming in to HSS receive no local government support. HSS also sets the same fees for service for all its patrons, same for non-city residents as they are for city residents even though taxpayer dollars are already paying for 25% of the costs for animals taken in from within the City limits and by City residents. If they have to raise fees maybe they should first raise fees for non-residents and/or not decline the $47,500 the City is offering to continue to support their operation. HSS: You will no longer be able to obtain a city dog license at the shelter. CITY OF SEDONA: Residents will now be able to get their dog licenses at City Hall from the Police Department. The Police Departments hours of operation are much greater than the Societys making access to obtain a dog license more convenient for residents. HSS: WE NEED YOUR HELP. The fundamental difference between HSS and the City is we see the shelter as an ANIMAL CARE facility, servicing all animals and residents of the community, which in fact we do. The City views HSS as an animal control shelter, a place to drop off stray and dead animals they find. CITY OF SEDONA: This is not the position of the Committee. The Committees position was to fund 25% of the actual costs for ALL animals brought in from City residents or within City limits (327). That is what the $47,500 offer was based on, not just the 40 animals taken in by animal control.
Posted on: Tue, 08 Jul 2014 01:03:06 +0000
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