FRUIT HEIGHTS — Davis County leaders are hoping a property tax increase will give animal shelters some much-needed support.
They said they are taking in more animals than ever before and have had to cut back on services to keep going.
The Davis County Commission has already secured funding to build a new facility that will be nearly three times the size of the current facility. We currently require additional staff and service assistance.
The Davis County Animal Shelter currently houses many animals, over 100, with hundreds more in foster care programs.
Facility Director Ashley Young said they had to cut back on services in order to adopt out more pets.
“We see about 4,500 animals pass through here every year,” Young told KSL-TV. “Seventy percent of them are strays. And we also accept surrenders from Davis County residents.”
They’ve turned closets into offices and dealt with tight vet and intake spaces.
“We provide very minimal veterinary care and no behavioral resources at all, and because of that, a lot of pets don’t make it out of the Davis County animal shelter alive,” Young said. spoke.
Mr Young said unfortunately only a small number, less than 10%, are euthanized, which technically remains a no-kill status. But they want to do better.
“It’s very difficult for the staff here and it definitely creates friction in the community because there are pets out there who want us to help them and we don’t. Because we haven’t done any of that,” Young said.
Davis County is asking homeowners to raise their property taxes by about $13 a year or less for the average household. This increase will bring in approximately $1.7 million in revenue, help us hire six new staff members, and restore many of the services that have been cut.
“We no longer provide humane euthanasia to the public because we do not have the staff or facilities to provide that service. We no longer provide public vaccinations. “Hmm,” Young said.
Mr. Young believed that additional funding was needed to truly deliver what was expected here.
There will be four open houses where you can get information about the proposed tax increase. Davis County’s interim budget hearing is scheduled for Dec. 3.
