Officials balk at higher stray animal fee

AMITY >> The new proposed cost to Amity Township for its stray animals taken to the Animal Rescue League of Berks County has doubled to $30,000.

Amity Township Board of Supervisors’ Chairwoman Kimberly McGrath said the animal shelter now wants all Berks County municipalities to pay $2 per resident in 2019 for care of stray animals.

“One day after meeting with them, their board voted to do a per capita (fee agreement),” said McGrath.

Township Manager Troy Bingaman said it is his understanding that municipalities either accept the fee agreement terms or the league will not accept any an-

imals from that township.

“They are trying to distribute $900,000 of costs over the population of Berks County,” said Bingaman.

Township Solicitor Brian F. Boland said the league’s Form 990’s (Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax) “don’t support the reported debt.”

“There’s no way I’d vote for that,” said Supervisor Paul R. Weller, adding,

“Not everyone has an animal and not everyone’s pet gets loose.”

Board members tabled the issue pending receipt of the revised fee agreement.

The board tabled on Oct. 17 the league’s previous fee agreement that required a $1,500 annual baseline fee from each municipality, plus additional fees for services rendered in each municipality.

The estimate for Amity Township was an additional $14,000 to $16,000 per year.

It had annually contributed $1,000 a year to the Animal Rescue League.

“How do we budget for that?” asked Supervisor Terry L. Jones, adding, “it’s not fair to the taxpayers.”

Animal Rescue League officials indicated in the new fee agreement that the league is losing $1.1 million a year in providing animal pick-ups and shelter services throughout the county.

League officials said they would provide with the monthly bill a list of individuals who are dropping off animals.