County animal control staff told commissioners the department’s budget increase for 2026 reflects expected lease and move‑in costs related to a new animal shelter anticipated in the fall. The department asked commissioners to note the timing uncertainty as staff finalizes utility and lease figures.

An unnamed animal control presenter said the new shelter is expected to open in September or October 2026. The budget assumes the current shelter arrangement will continue for the first nine months of the year, after which the county will begin operating under a new lease or agreement for the new facility; that assumption increased the rental line item for 2026 from prior budget levels. Staff said the new facility’s monthly cost might be reduced to roughly $3,200 per month compared with a current cost near $900 per month once the move occurs, but they noted some utility and tap fees are still being estimated.

Presenters also said some repair and maintenance costs should decline after the county moves out of the older facility, which has required intermittent repairs. Staff noted final 2027 budget planning will reflect a clearer picture of utility taps and fixed costs once the move and final contracts are complete.

Commissioners asked whether municipalities share animal control costs as they do for dispatch; presenters said no intergovernmental cost‑sharing arrangement exists presently. County staff said they will return with more precise utility and lease amounts during the next budget cycle.

The animal control budget will remain in the county budget package; commissioners asked staff to continue refining utility assumptions and to include a fuller 2027 cost estimate once the new shelter’s operational details are finalized.