KHS seeks nearly $1 million

LIHU‘E — The Kaua‘i Humane Society is asking for nearly $1 million in its new budget proposal.

To continue its current level of service for dogs and cats, KHS Executive Director Penny Cistaro said the organization needs $916,445 from the county, an increase of more than $250,000.

Without additional funding, there could be a dramatic decrease in services, she said.

Cistaro said she is considering closing on Mondays, which would reduce staff, as well as changing how the shelter would handle stray cats.

“We haven’t crossed that bridge,” she said.

Nearly two weeks after not presenting a budget to the Kaua‘i County Council, KHS returned to the council Tuesday with a pair of budget proposals.

The first version detailed the projected costs of caring for dogs only, as mandated by the Hawai‘i Review Statutes. The second addressed both dogs and cats, as specified in the current contract between the county and KHS.

Council members made it clear they are not comfortable with increasing funding for KHS during fiscal year 2014, which begins July 1. However, they also stressed they have not discussed cutting the budget, either.  

“Every other department that’s come in is getting less money, and we’re asking everyone to cut their services and trim costs and not hire people,” said Councilman Gary Hooser. “This looks like it’s a huge increase.”

To honor the request, Hooser said the county would either have to raise taxes or take money away from other county services.

“I don’t think we can overemphasize the condition of the county budget,” he said.

The current $660,000 contract, which ends June 30, includes $595,000 for animal control and care and another $65,000 for the shelter’s spay and neuter program. So far this fiscal year, KHS has spent $308,000 of its own reserve money, according to Cistaro.

She pointed out KHS is not a department of the county and that the county is contracting with the organization to provide a service to the community.

“The contract that the humane society is currently in with the county asks for us to provide services to not only dogs, but to all small animals,” she said. “That includes cats.”

For years, Cistaro said KHS has “picked up what the county has not paid for,” using donations to subsidize the county’s responsibility.

“I’m coming to the county and saying we cannot fund the cat portion of the program any longer,” she said.

Cistaro discussed a number of ways she is looking at bringing in additional revenue, including increasing licensing fees for dogs, as well as impound and stray boarding fees for dogs and cats. By doing so, Cistaro projects about $120,000 in additional revenue.

Councilman Mel Rapozo asked Cistaro about her position on licensing cats. Although it is a controversial subject, Cistaro said she would “highly recommend it.”

“There are more cat owners than dog owners,” she said. “Cat owners need to held to the same standard that a dog owner does because what happens in an animal control program is that the dog owners, by licensing their dog, are then subsidizing the cat portion of your animal control program.”

Rapozo agreed licensing cats “makes sense,” as they are a bigger threat to public safety.

Cistaro said KHS does not have the finances to continue to fund the cat program. For cat control and care, KHS asked for $340,000.

KHS brings in about 1,650 dogs per year, compared to 2,500 cats.

Councilman Ross Kagawa asked Cistaro about how much KHS receives annually in donations. She said about $450,000 in cash and material donations were received in fiscal year 2012, and she is projecting $320,000 this fiscal year.

Kagawa said some of that money should be used for animal control and care.  

Cistaro said KHS has its own programs it must fund with donations and that it “can’t raise money to support a county program.”

She said stray animals are a county health and wellness issue.

“You’re asking us to spend donor dollars to the humane society on what, in other jurisdictions, are a county function … It’s not our responsibility to provide animal control functions,” she said.

Kagawa said KHS should be able to spend its donations on whatever it decides is a priority, including cats.

“It’s your job as executive director to determine how you want to spend those (donations),” he said.

In the end, he said the council would give Cistaro what they believe is fair.

“And hopefully we’ll still take care of our cat problem,” he said.

Although it would be “tough” considering the current financial situation of the county, Council Chair Jay Farfaro said he was committed to the current $660,000.

In FY 2009, county funding for KHS increased from $601,470 to $655,617. In 2012 it rose slightly to $660,000.

• Chris D’Angelo, lifestyle writer, can be reached at 245-0441 or lifestyle@thegardenisland.com.