Draft budget shows large monthly deficit for Delaware County Animal Protection Board

With the SPCA soon ending its county animal control services and a new shelter behind schedule, Delaware County’s Animal Protection Board is in a bit of a bind.

A draft budget presented last night shows the proposed shelter — set for groundbreaking next week — could incur a monthly deficit of as much as $28,000.

There are some caveats though, as the Delco Times reports: the cost model doesn’t factor in donations, and includes adoption fees of only $12. Those fees could go as high as $125. The deficit could shrink with the help of donations and higher fees.

With that in mind, the county needs to get all 49 municipalities involved with the shelter, which is meant to replace the local SPCA animal control service when that contract expires at the end of the year. The board is currently considering partnering with other shelters until the one in Darby Township is complete.