Salem City Councilman Gerald Molenhour has suggested the city look at turning animal control over to the county as a way to cut the city’s budget deficit.
Molenhour says under state law Marion County is required to provide animal control services. The city has budgeted $178,000 for animal control in the coming year.
While no one else was ready to make the move for next year’s budget, the council informally agreed to look at the issue again next year after the county has a year under their belt running their new animal control facility. The county is buying the facility from the city of Centralia, which has turned their animal control over to the county.
There was concern about the county only providing services for dogs, but Molenhour says he’s been told the county board may be looking at also serving cats even though it is not required by state law.
