SCBC to increase humane shelter budget by $25,000

The Stephens County Board of Commissioners have agreed to increase the Toccoa-Stephens County Humane Shelter’s budget for Fiscal Year 2023.

The decision was made on Tuesday, during the Commission’s regular scheduled meeting, when Angie Garland, representing the Humane Shelter, came forward asking the Commission to consider increasing the Humane Shelter’s budget by $50,000. Ultimately, the Commission decided to partially fund the request by allotting $25,000 to ensure the Humane Shelter could continue operating.

County Administrator Phyllis Ayers explained that the shelter is funded through the County and City of Toccoa, plus through fundraising efforts and grants they receive. Ayers then read a letter issued by the Humane Shelter Board’s Chairwoman Jeanette Jamieson, which explained how the shelter would have to make changes to their operations if additional funding is not received.

Those changes include closing the shelter two days a week, limiting the number of animals the shelter can hold, or limit intake to only stray animals.

Garland explained that the Shelter was what brought the Stephens County Board of Commissioners and the Toccoa City Commission together and they should continue to work together to keep the shelter open.

“The city has been waiting to see what the county is willing to do. But I have been told that the city will take care of us and if all else fails then the shelter could be run by the city like so many years ago. I don’t want that to happen because I think the county and city should take care of it together,” she said.

Chairman James Addison said that one issue with the Humane Shelter is that they continue to take in more animals than they are equipped to care for.

Commissioner Dean Scarborough and Commissioner Debbie Whitlock asked for a compromise such as the County and City both agree to pay $25,000 of the requested amount.

Scarborough added that there should be some measures in place that the shelter will agree to only bring in animals if they’re not over the allowed number; however, he said he knows that at times the shelter has to go over the standard number of animals due to emergency rescues.

Commissioner Michelle Ivester suggested the Commission partially fund the request, and then reconsider the remaining amount at the start of 2023.

A motion to give $25,000 to the humane shelter was made by Vice Chair Dennis Bell with Ivester seconding the motion. The motion was approved unanimously.