Print Return
    5.    
INTERNAL OPERATIONS COMMITTEE
Meeting Date: 10/12/2020  
Subject:    2019/20 Animal Benefit Fund Report
Submitted For: Beth Ward, Animal Services Director
Department: Animal Services  
Referral No.: IOC 20/8  
Referral Name: Animal Benefit Fund PY Review
Presenter: Beth Ward Contact: Beth Ward (925) 608-8472

Information
Referral History:
In 1988, the Animal Services Department created the Animal Benefit Fund. The purpose of the Animal Benefit Fund (ABF) is to allow the Animal Services Department to receive donations from individuals, animal welfare organizations and businesses, to support animal health and welfare projects that are not funded by departmental or general County revenues.

On April 21, 2015, during fiscal year 2015/16 budget hearings, the Board of Supervisors formally referred to the Internal Operations Committee (IOC) a review of the Animal Benefit Fund. On April 19, 2016, The Board of Supervisors approved, at the recommendation of the IOC, expansion of the Animal Benefit Fund approved uses (see attached Archived Board Order dated 4/19/16) and directed the Animal Services Director to report annually to the IOC on the impact of the Animal Benefit Fund on the community and families, creating a new standing referral. The IOC has previously received three such reports for FYs 2016/17, 2017/18, and 2018/19.

During the FY 2018/19 presentation, the Animal Services Director explained that the shelters were crowded with an average length of stay at 30+ days, a 2:1 ratio of dogs to dog runs, and 12 dogs per ward rather than the more acceptable 6-9 dogs per ward. She highlighted some of the uses of the Animal Benefit Fund (ABF) to supplement spay/neuter services provided by CBOs, to support the microchip program, and towards the Panda Gift program. She acknowledged that at the current rate of spending, the department would exhaust the ABF balance by the end of that fiscal year. The department planned to compensate for the funding gap with a combination of fee increases and staff assumption of some of the ABF services. The BOS approved a new fee schedule on November 1, 2019, effective January 1, 2020. The fee increase was expected to generate about $340,000 in additional revenue for the department.
Referral Update:
Since the creation of the Animal Benefit Fund more than 30 years ago, monetary contributions and donations for services and supplies for animal welfare have provided additional support for unfunded needs of the animals impounded at the Department shelters and in our community. These donations have come in the form of grants or “soft ask” gifts over the counter or from the Animal Services Department website.

ANNUAL REPORT

For fiscal year (FY) 2019/20, the Department allocated $453,022 for Animal Benefit Program. The monies in these funds are not intended to replace General Funds, rather they are to supplement and enhance our care for animals and support of the public. The table below details the allocation, adjustment, and balances for each ABF program for FY 2019/20:


Animal Benefit Fund (ABF) FY 2019/20
ABF Fund Balance
Fund Appropriation Amount
133200 Beginning balance 338,022
133200 19/20 Expenditures (333,454)
133200 19/20 Revenue 212,117
133200 Ending Balance 216,685
Expenses
Org ABF Program Appropriation Year-to-Date
Expenditures
Remaining Balance
3349 General 248,022 188,325 59,697
3350 Panda 50,000 4,578 45,422
3351 Education Program 0 102 (102)
3352 Shelter Intervention 25,000 21,785 3,215
3353 Transfer Partner Assistance 0 0 0
3354 Spay and Neuter Program 130,000 118,664 11,336
3355 Pets for Seniors 0 0 0
3356 Discounted Adoptions 0 0 0
Totals: 453,022 333,454 119,568
Revenue
Org Type of Donations
Estimated
Revenue
Collected
Unrealized
Revenue
9181 Pooled Earnings 0 5,700 (5,700)
9965 Donations 100,000 168,022 (68,022)
9965 S/N Fee Donations 0 23,395 (23,395)
9966 Grants 0 15,000 0
Totals: 100,000 212,117 (97,117)


The key factors that affected the FY 2019/20 ABF budget were:
  1. The reduction of the Unconditional Dog enrichment contract.
  2. The Department received a $15,000 grant from the State of California’s Agriculture Department to increase low-cost S/N services for Contra Costa County residents.
  3. COVID-19 significantly affected the Veterinary industry, due to a decrease in medical supplies and the State of California’s Veterinary Medical Board (CVMB) recommendations identifying spay/neuter (S/N) services and specialty care services as non-essential veterinary medical services.The recommendation from the CVMB reduced veterinary services for animal owners and community partners throughout the State and the local Bay Area.Our community partners therefore did not utilize their S/N contracts as projected, due to this impact.
The Department exceeded its donation revenue goal estimated at $100,000 by collecting $168,022.07 in actual donations for FY 2019/20. The ABF donations increased through holiday donation drives in 2019. These activities have and will continue to be organized to promote our ABF programs and services, which are strongly supported by our partners and community residents.

In January 2020, the Department implemented the $10 donation for each “unaltered” animal license sold. These donations are allocated specifically for our Spay and Neuter Program. In six (6) months, the Department received $23,395 towards these services.

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PROGRAM MODIFICATIONS
  1. Rename Panda's Gift Program to the "Medical Assistance Program". Expand medical care services to sheltered and community that are above the mandated medical care for animals in shelter or within the community to increase pet retention.
  2. Rename the Education Program to the "Humane Education Program" and expand the program to cover education programs provided within the community as well as in the shelter.
  3. Expand the intervention tools provided under the Shelter Intervention Program to include preventative services (e.g. fence repair, pet grooming, ect.) and basic daily pet needs to maintain an animal in their home.
  4. Expand the Spay and Neuter Program to include subsidies for pet vaccination and microchipping through local partnerships and mobile clinics.
  5. Sunset the Transfer Partner Assistance, Pets for Seniors, and Discounted Adoption programs.

With input and approval of the Internal Operations Committee, the Animal Services Department will work with the County Administrator's Office to prepare a new Animal Benefit Fund resolution for Board consideration. The proposed 2020 Animal Benefit Fund resolution will continue to authorize the Animal Services Director to accept any gift, bequest, or device made for the benefit of animals in the shelter through programs such as a car donation and planned giving programs pursuant to Government Code section 25355. In keeping with this code section, the Director will file a report with the Board every quarter that describes the source and value of each gift. An annual report will also be provided to share the impact of the Animal Benefit fund on our community animals and families.

The Animal Services Department anticipates that approximately $130,000 will be received annually in donations. This estimate is based on the amount of donations received by the animal shelter over the last three years. As is required by statute, any gifted funds or assets will be used for those purposes as are prescribed in the terms of the gift, bequest, or devise. Gifts by donors may be designated directly to a specific program. Gifts received with no instruction as to the use for a specific area or program or funds donated for “general animal welfare” will be considered as part of the general Animal Benefit Fund. Monies raised through in-house donations, and/or general fund-raising activities shall be considered undesignated gift funds and will be used for ABF programs at the discretion of the Animal Services Director.
Recommendation(s)/Next Step(s):
ACCEPT the 2019/20 Animal Benefit Fund report and CONSIDER approving recommendations for modifying the Animal Benefit Fund program.
Fiscal Impact (if any):
No fiscal impact. This is an informational report with recommendations that will not affect the amount of funds allocated for animal services and programs, but rather how donated funds can be expended.
Attachments
ABF Powerpoint Presentation FY 2019/20
ARCHIVED DOCUMENT: April 2016 Board Order Expanding Animal Benefit Fund Program

AgendaQuick©2005 - 2024 Destiny Software Inc., All Rights Reserved