Agenda - 09-21-1993 - VIII-F - Laserfiche WebLink

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2 This double-edged sword of increased demand and dwindling resources coincides with the infiltration of rabies into North Carolina. All health departments have increased the level of their rabies control activity. Reviewing these circumstances, the Health Department Management Team and the Board of Health agreed that a new ACO was the top priority, full-time, new position request, above needs in Child Health, Health Education and Medical Office support. Among the four requests the Board of Health approved in the requested budget, the Animal Control Officer position was the one full-time new position recommended by the Manager. With the new position, the Animal Control Division will be able to meet the steady increase in demand for services that we have experienced since FY89-90. In addition we will be able to stagger schedules and extend normal working hours to 8 p.m. and schedule after hours on-call service without accruing overtime. Furthermore, we will reorganize animal control service delivery by districting the county and streamlining the division of labor among existing ACO's. This will result in greater efficiency, higher productivity, and improved response time. Without the new ACO we will have to cut back on the preventive work of education and permitting and reduce non-mandated activity_ in,wildlife fescue and response to animal nuisance complaints such as barking dogs. Furthermore, we will have ko reduce the scope of calls we respond to at night which could result in the Sheriff's Department receiving more nuisance and domestic dispute complaints. The Board of Health reviewed a national survey of Animal License Fees, as well as information from the Durham, Charlotte, Wake and New Hanover County Animal Control Programs. These are outlined in Figure 1 of the attachments. Three options for the differential fees for sterile and unsterile dogs and cats are outlined in Figure 2 and were considered by the Board. The Board considered the impact of the increased rates on owners of multiple animals. Reduced rates are not currently available in orange, Durham and Wake counties; however, they are available in Charlotte and New Hanover, as shown in Figure 3. Three options for reduced rates in Orange County are outlined in Figure 4. Figure 5 compares the current, proposed budget revenue for fees to each of the three options and projects the net gain from each. Figure 6 outlines the cost to fund an Animal Control Officer Position for six months in year one and twelve months in year two. This demonstrates that all three of the options would produce sufficient revenue to fund the increased position. Options two and three would provide additional funding that could be used for innovative projects such as a spay/neuter program and increased educational activity. Finally, the Board considered the experience of other counties in providing exemptions to owners of guide and assistance dogs or owners who are over sixty-two years of age. Exemptions are not currently allowed in orange, but are allowed in some form in the other North Carolina counties reviewed, as outlined in Figure 7.