Agenda 08/08/2023 Item #11E (Budget Amendments for Domestic Animal Services - $200,000)08/08/2023
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Recommendation to authorize Budget Amendments for Domestic Animal Services (DAS) utilizing $200,000
from DAS Donation Fund reserves and realigning existing Public Services Department operating budgets, in
the amount of $450,000, to support DAS operating expense requirements through the end of the fiscal year.
OBJECTIVE: To reallocate the necessary funding for Domestic Animal Services (DAS) to support required
expenditures to maintain operations through the end of the fiscal year.
CONSIDERATIONS: The DAS mission is to ensure compliance with local and state animal -related laws, to
return strays to their owners, promote the adoption of homeless animals, and to work toward ending the community
problem of pet overpopulation.
The in-house shelter veterinarian resigned in January of 2021. Recruitment of a new veterinarian has been difficult.
In the interim to provide necessary medical treatment and legally required spaying/neutering of animals DAS has
utilized a combination of relief veterinarians, private veterinary practices, and non-profit organizations specializing
in veterinary care for animals. The outsourcing costs of these services have increased dramatically from $140,000
in FY21 to $411,000 in FY22 and are estimated to reach $644,000 in FY23. The budget amendment to transfer
funds from Public Services Department operating budgets and DAS Donation Reserve will ensure financial
resources are available to continue providing veterinary services through the end of FY23.
Animal care workers provide direct animal care, facility cleaning, and feeding at DAS. Numerous vacancies in full-
time County positions, in combination with increased shelter populations and expanded hours of operation, have
necessitated the increased use of temporary labor to provide the required levels of service. Accordingly, temporary
labor expenditures have increased from $94,000 in FY21, to $196,000 in FY22, and are estimated to reach
$511,000 in FY23. The increase in these expenditures is due to the added number of temp staff required and
increased hourly wages from the competitiveness in the labor market.
The funding requirement for electricity, which has increased from $64,000 in FY21 to $108,000 in FY22 to an
estimated $140,000 in FY23, is needed for increased use and cost related to, expanded hours of operation, and
additional air conditioning in the kennel buildings to maintain compliance with shelter temperature standards.
Additionally, trash and recycling, animal care supplies, and other operating supplies have all escalated due to
increased facility populations, expanded hours of operation, and the need to purchase essential items in an
inflationary marketplace environment.
Diligent efforts have and continue to be made at the Department level to offset these increased costs in utilities,
services, and consumables required to sustain business operations. All purchases are being reviewed; non -critical
expenditures are being postponed or declined; and open purchase orders have been reviewed, and where possible
and appropriate, reduced to free encumbered funding. While these efforts have been successful and will continue to
be employed, additional funding is required to maintain the delivery of the required level of services. Reallocation
of funding is necessary to sustain the current level of service for the remainder of FY 2023. If the funding request is
not approved, cost -elimination efforts will need to be immediately implemented.
Commitment Item
Description
Fund 0001 (PSD
Operating Budget
Realignment)
Fund 1135 (DAS
Donation Reserve
Transfer)
Total
Veterinary Medical
$90,000
$200,000
$290,000
Temporary Labor
$240,000
$240,000
Electricity
$40,000
$40,000
Trash & Garbage
$20,000
$20,000
Animal Supplies (food, kitty
litter, etc.)
$20,000
$20,000
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08/08/2023
Other Operating (shelter,
cleaning, and office supplies)
$40,000
$40,000
Total
$450,000
$200,000
$650,000
FISCAL IMPACT: The funding for the requested Budget Amendments totals $650,000. Reserve funds in the
amount of $200,000 are available in Domestic Animal Services Donation Fund (1135) and attrition savings in the
amount of $450,000 are available within Public Services Department General Fund operating budgets.
LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS: This item has been reviewed by the County Attorney, raises no legal issues and
requires majority vote for approval. -JAK
GROWTH MANAGEMENT IMPACT: There is no Growth Management impact associated with this action.
RECOMMENDATION: To authorize Budget Amendments for Domestic Animal Services (DAS) utilizing
$200,000 from DAS Donation Fund reserves and realigning existing Public Services Department operating budgets,
in the amount of $450,000, to support DAS operating expense requirements through the end of the fiscal year.
Prepared By: Jeff Weir, Director - Operations Support
Jeffrey Newman, Manager - Financial Operations, Operation and Veteran Services Division
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11.E
08/08/2023
COLLIER COUNTY
Board of County Commissioners
Item Number: 11.E
Doc ID: 26240
Item Summary: Recommendation to authorize Budget Amendments for Domestic Animal Services (DAS)
utilizing $200,000 from DAS Donation Fund reserves and realigning existing Public Services Department operating
budgets, in the amount of $450,000, to support DAS operating expense requirements through the end of the fiscal
year. (Jeff Weir, Director, Operations Support - Public Services Department)
Meeting Date: 08/08/2023
Prepared by:
Title: — Operations & Veteran Services
Name: Jeff Newman
07/31/2023 12:47 PM
Submitted by:
Title: — Operations & Veteran Services
Name: Jeff Newman
07/31/2023 12:47 PM
Approved By:
Review:
Operations & Veteran Services
Domestic Animal Services
Public Services Department
Operations & Veteran Services
Public Services Department
County Attorney's Office
Office of Management and Budget
Office of Management and Budget
Office of Management and Budget
County Manager's Office
Board of County Commissioners
Jeff Weir OVS Director Review
Completed
07/31/2023 1:41 PM
Marcy Perry Additional Reviewer
Completed
07/31/2023 2:02 PM
Todd Henry PSD Level 1 Reviewer
Completed
07/31/2023 2:15 PM
Todd Henry Director Review
Skipped
07/31/2023 2:07 PM
Tanya Williams PSD Department Head Review
Completed
07/31/2023 4:40 PM
Jeffrey A. Klatzkow Level 3 County Attorney's Office Review
Completed
08/01/2023 9:15 AM
Blanca Aquino Luque Level 3 OMB Gatekeeper Review
Completed
08/01/2023 10:29 AM
Blanca Aquino Luque Additional Reviewer
Completed
08/01/2023 2:55 PM
Christopher Johnson Additional Reviewer
Completed
08/02/2023 1:36 PM
Ed Finn Level 4 County Manager Review
Completed
08/02/2023 5:50 PM
Geoffrey Willig Meeting Pending
08/08/2023 9:00 AM
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