The Bartholomew County commissioners have made a significant financial gesture to help homeless dogs and cats.
During the panel’s annual organizational meeting, the commissioners agreed to raise their support to the Bartholomew County Humane Society by 38% over last year.
The Humane Society will receive $125,000 to be distributed in monthly allotments of $10,417, according to figures announced Monday. That’s up from a total of $90,474 provided last year.
The money is appropriated in exchange for the Humane Society agreeing to take in domesticated animals brought in by Bartholomew County Animal Control. Officials with the Humane Society had met earlier with the commissioners during a work session to negotiate a new agreement, commissioners Chairman Tony London said.
“They had asked for that amount, and we thought it was appropriate,” London said.
While inflation was listed as one reason for the increase, London said the Humane Society has been tied to the same amount from the county for several years. However, the number of domestic animals brought into the animal shelter by Animal Control employees continues to go up.
“It’s not like if they take in more animals, they automatically get more pay,” London said. “It’s always been a flat annual fee.”
The funding increase comes as animal rights activists continue to pressure county officials to bring their animal control ordinances in line with those approved by the City of Columbus, which deals in both welfare and control.
London say discussions with the public, including the activists, have prompted Bartholomew County Animal Control officers to be “more responsive and better prepared” in their work.
But the commissioner says county government doesn’t have the resources to enforce what is in the city’s ordinances.
“We have more than twice the area to cover, and only 15% of the staff,” London said.
Besides the Humane Society, four other nonprofit organizations also received funding from the commissioners:
- Centerstone Behavioral Health will receive $739,872 to provide mental health services to those who cannot afford it. The state mandates how much the county must pay annually, which was $679,948 last year.
- Developmental Services, Inc. will receive $115,000 (up from $100,000 last year) to provide services for adults and children with mental, physical and emotional disabilities
- The Arc of Bartholomew County is receiving $15,000 to assist people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. That is the same amount the organization received last year.
The commissioners also have agreed to provide Mill Race Center with $5,000 to help supplement their gasoline budget.
While state law prohibits counties from giving money to nonprofits, county commissioners are allowed to pay a specific amount to such organizations for providing services to county residents.
In addition to several reappointments, the Bartholomew County Commissioners have made seven new appointments to various boards, commissions and committees. They are:
Jeff Jones – Board of Directors for the Alliance for Substance Abuse Progress.
John Cunningham – Community Corrections Advisory Board. The Edinburgh native who overcame his own addition and founded the recovery group, Recover Out loud. Cunningham was featured in the documentary “The Addict’s Wake.”
James Smith – Trustee for the Employee Benefit Trust
Dr. Eric Tannenbaum, Dr. Steve Newton and Julie Clore – Bartholomew County Health Board
Jared Dickey – Joint District Board of Zoning Appeals
