Cowlitz commissioners raise alarm over rising humane society contract, plan workshop with cities and sheriff

Cowlitz County commissioners flagged a pending three-year contract with a regional humane society for animal services as a growing budget pressure and agreed to convene a workshop with city officials and the sheriff to explore alternatives.

Chair (S1) said the county now provides field officers who pick up animals and pays a shelter fee; the current renewal proposes "$9,500 a month," which Chair S1 described as "roughly 120,000 a year" for the service. He warned that over the term of the contract, when county officer costs are included, the total county expense could be "close to 1000000 bucks." (Chair)

Commissioners (S3, S6, S4) expressed concern that the humane society had developed a near-monopoly in the area and appeared to be expanding its revenue and footprint. Commissioner (S3) said paperwork indicated the group planned to increase revenue and footprint threefold over five years and described the situation as being "about the money." Commissioner (S4) framed the issue as a matter of individual responsibility and urged using a county-led process to define goals and parameters before contracting.

Chair S1 proposed and the board agreed to organize a workshop that would bring together the county, the cities of Longview, Kelso and Castle Rock, the sheriff’s office and other stakeholders to discuss options including alternative service models and cost-recovery mechanisms such as property liens or stiffer fees for owners who do not care for their animals.

What happens next: Staff will work with commissioners and local jurisdictions to schedule a workshop to evaluate animal-services delivery options and contract terms; no contract decision was finalized in the public meeting.