Supervisor Spitzer Opposes Dog License Fee Increase
By Orange County Supervisor Todd Spitzer
This week, the Board of Supervisors, in a 3-1 vote, approved a new fee schedule for OC Animal Care, which increased 55 fees, decreased 19 fees, and maintained 29 fees at their prior levels. Supervisor Todd Spitzer cast the sole vote against the new fee schedule, which increases the standard dog license fee by 12.5%.
“By increasing the standard dog licensing fee from $24 to $27, Orange County has one of the highest fees in Southern California,” Supervisor Spitzer said. “I oppose this fee increase because it is unfair to law-abiding citizens who are forced to pay more to subsidize those who break the law by refusing to license their dogs.”
Facing a $1.4 million shortfall in next year’s budget, OC Animal Care gained agreement from the Orange County City Managers Association for a $780,200 increase in contributions from contract cities. (17 of Orange County’s 34 cities contract with OC Animal Care for animal control and animal shelter services while an 18th city, Santa Ana, contracts only for animal shelter services.)
After accounting for the $780,200 city contribution, OC Animal Care still had a $626,300 shortfall remaining.
The new fee schedule will affect residents of unincorporated areas and residents of the contract cities, which includes all areas of the Third Supervisorial District other than Irvine:
- Anaheim
- Brea
- Cypress
- Fountain Valley
- Fullerton
- Garden Grove
- Huntington Beach
- Laguna Hills
- Lake Forest
- Orange
- Placentia
- Rancho Santa Margarita
- San Juan Capistrano
- Santa Ana (Shelter Services Only)
- Stanton
- Tustin
- Villa Park
- Yorba Linda