The future of pet adoption and sheltering in Lompoc is up in the air while the Lompoc City Council awaits a new animal services contract from Santa Barbara County. The current contract expires on June 30.
After hearing a presentation on the county’s anticipated rate increases, Councilmember Dirk Starbuck questioned the rising costs and described the current state of county-provided animal services in Lompoc as a mess.
“Some dogs are identifying as cats in town because of this,” Starbuck said during the Lompoc City Council’s May 17 meeting. “I think it’s important that everybody in the city knows that, for approximation, we’re paying roughly $30,000 a month for animal services.”
The anticipated annual cost for county-provided animal services for the 2022-23 fiscal year is $347,260, which Santa Barbara County anticipates will increase 1.6 to 4.1 percent each year over the next five years, as the county phases out using supplemental general funds to offset city contract costs.
Without an active animal shelter based in Lompoc, Starbuck emphasized that city residents currently have to travel to Santa Maria for county-provided animal services.
“For $30,000, I’d expect a lot more,” said Starbuck, who proposed that city staff research the minimum requirements needed to be met for Lompoc to run its own shelter in town.
“What is required by law, minimally, to run a shelter? If it’s as easy as issuing a dog license, maybe it is something we should consider doing on our own,” Starbuck said. “For $30,000 a month, maybe we can get on the ballot and get somebody to run for dog catcher too.”
Councilmember Jeremy Ball agreed that city staff should research alternative options before the City Council decides whether or not to continue relying on the county for animal services.
“The level of service has only gone down but we’re seeing that the costs are going up. … If the county has a better plan, and it makes sense for us, and we cannot beat that cost, … then I’ll personally be convinced that the county is the way to go,” Ball said. “If we can do it cheaper and more efficiently, I want someone to prove it to me. If the county can do that, it’s reasonable for us to request that they prove it to us too.
“I just really challenge all parties, give us a competitive system, teach us what we are actually getting for the money we invest,” Ball added.
Councilmember Victor Vega also spoke in favor of staff returning to a future meeting with evaluations on any potential alternatives, to determine whether or not “the county is the cheapest deal in town,” shortly before the Lompoc City Council agreed to direct staff to do so.
This article appears in May 26 – Jun 2, 2022.
