Augusta County supervisors agree to 10-year SPCA deal

Augusta County Supervisors approved a long-term contract with the Augusta Regional SPCA Wednesday that calls for the county, Waynesboro and Staunton to pay the SPCA about $300,000 per year for three years, with an escalation clause for an additional seven years.

City councils in the two cities are yet to vote on the agreement, which won't be final until they do. Under the terms, the base price of $300,000 cannot be lowered.

The 10-year agreement came at the eleventh hour in negotiations between the localities and the Augusta Regional Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, after it appeared Augusta County was going to build its own animal pound.

Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeremy Shifflett called the final agreement “a doable compromise.” He said the SPCA already has the facilities and management.

Middle River Supervisor Gerald Garber said the agreement, “will benefit all sides. It was a late-night decision but a good one.”

After the first three years, the amount to be paid to the SPCA will increase based on the consumer price index, a move supported by Pastures Supervisor Tracy Pyles.

He said the CPI escalation clause would result in an increase of 2 to 3 percent per year. Pyles said the final agreement included a more reasonable posture from the SPCA.

“We could not allow them to keep a gun to our head,’’ Pyles said.

Under terms of the agreement released Wednesday, Augusta County would pay 62 percent of the $300,000 at $186,000, with Waynesboro offering $54,000 and Staunton $60,000.

Staunton City Council discussed the agreement during a budget work session Wednesday night and appeared to be on board with it.  “It seems reasonable to us,’’ said Assistant Staunton City Manager Jim Halasz. They did not vote.

As recent as a week ago, county supervisors had received a preliminary architect’s plan for constructing an animal shelter by July 1. The county was told the cost of renovating a large mostly empty warehouse/vehicle maintenance facility owned by Augusta County and located at the government center.

The architect’s plan said about 5,800 square feet would be needed and estimated the facility would cost $726,875 to $875,250 to build.

Barbara Franklin, a longtime supporter and former president of the SPCA, told supervisors Wednesday night that the county’s budget for opening a shelter did not include all facets of such a task, including funding for the seizure of horses.

Also Wednesday night, supervisors conducted a public hearing for the 2011-12 budget on the real and personal property tax rates.

The budget, which will be approved May 4  by supervisors, offers the same  tax rate of 48 cents per $100 for real estate taxes, and personal property tax  rate of $2.25 per $100 for cars and trucks less than two tons and $1.90 per $100 for most types of personal property including farm equipment, boats and aircraft.