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Tuesday, June 18, 2013

By Nelson Sigelman
Published: April 23, 2009

The Dukes County manager outlined the expected financial costs associated with operating a town-supported, community-based animal shelter at a meeting of the county advisory board (CAB) Friday.

County manager Russell Smith estimates that in its first year the shelter would generate revenues of $70,000 and have expenses of approximately $95,000. The county proposes that the towns pick up the deficit of approximately $25,000.

The county is prepared to cover the initial costs of operating the facility, after the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (MSPCA) leaves Martha's Vineyard on May 1.

Included in the county presentation was a request that the selectmen members of the CAB press their respective town boards to commit to reimburse the county.

The CAB, including one selectman from each town, is responsible for financial oversight of the county. The county has agreed to dip into its reserve fund for the money needed to operate the animal shelter for an initial six-month period.

A meeting of the county commissioners preceded the meeting of the county advisory board. On Thursday, Mr. Smith told the commissioners that people "had been coming out of the woodwork to help."

Mr. Smith reviewed his estimates for operating the animal shelter. He said with any luck it could break even but for now the goal was to keep the doors open and provide a needed service to the community.

On Friday, the CAB approved a slate of budget transfers intended to offset reductions in anticipated revenue and the use of reserve fund monies for the animal shelter.

In a budget worksheet presented at the meeting, Mr. Smith proposed that the towns share the costs based on population. That would leave the down-Island towns paying a larger share of the costs and the up-Island towns paying less. For example, Edgartown would pay $6,251 compared with Chilmark's $1,520.

The county operating budget is built in part on individual town assessments, which are based on real estate valuation. In the next fiscal year, Edgartown taxpayers will pay the largest share, $284,139, followed by Chilmark ($133,632), Oak Bluffs ($128,615), Tisbury ($125,878), West Tisbury ($117,669), Aquinnah ($27,364) and Gosnold ($11,402).

The county commissioners have agreed to act as the lead agency in a coordinated stop-gap effort to provide animal shelter services on Martha's Vineyard.

Working with volunteers, animal control officers, and town officials, the county plans to keep the Katherine M. Foote Memorial Animal Shelter in Edgartown open. The MSPCA has agreed to donate use of the building and equipment at no cost to the county.

According to the MSPCA, the shelter costs approximately $250,000 annually to operate, and for the past several years it has run a deficit of approximately $130,000.

The revenue side of Mr. Smith's budget worksheet shows expected donations of $35,000, a figure he told the CAB was based "on intuition and not much else."

Labor to operate the facility is expected to cost near $50,000. For now, Mr. Smith said he is focused on costs over a six-month period.

Those present were selectmen Art Smadbeck of Edgartown, Jeffrey "Skipper" Manter of West Tisbury, Frank Fenner of Chilmark, and Denys Wortman of Tisbury.

Mr. Smith asked for a letter of commitment from the towns to reimburse the county. The selectmen agreed to support reimbursement, but they said they were not in a position to formally commit their respective towns.

That commitment could take the form of a future warrant article similar to those used to help fund the county pest control and health care access departments.

Told by county treasurer Noreen Flanders that a vote was needed, the CAB voted to authorize a $16,000 transfer.

Asked by The Martha's Vineyard Times why, in addition to the county assessments, Island taxpayers would be asked to reimburse the county's reserve fund, Mr. Smadbeck, CAB chairman, said the request was part of an effort to provide taxpayers with a say in county spending and narrow the county's activities to only those the towns are willing to support.

On Friday, Ms. Flanders also presented the CAB with a budget sheet that summarized the county's FY 2008 budget by department. A separate column contained downward revenue adjustments.

Attached to the budget sheet was a list of requested transfers by department and adjustments to expected department costs, intended to reduce expenses by $82,242. The adjustments were needed to offset reductions in anticipated county revenue of a bout $80,000.

Ms. Flanders presented budget sheets showing anticipated declines of $30,000 in registry fees, $10,000 in land court fees, $10,000 in registry/copy fees, and $30,000 in deeds excise transfer fees.

While downward adjustments in revenue appear on the budget sheet, one bright spot, a positive variance stemming from an unanticipated increase in revenue from the sale of Cape and Islands license plates, does not. The county budgeted $100,000 but stands to collect nearly $150,000, Ms. Flanders said.

Asked by The Martha's Vineyard Times why that information would not also appear on the budget summary, Ms. Flanders said the commissioners and CAB are aware of it, and the budget discussion that day was only to discuss transfers. The CAB approved all the transfers.