By Kaitlin Candelaria
The Greater Birmingham Humane Society can breathe easy – for now.
The Jefferson County Personnel Board voted unanimously at an Oct. 13 meeting to extend the organization’s animal control contract, which has been in place since January. The issue will be reconsidered at the beginning of 2016.
The issue of whether to extend the contract arose when considerations for the 2016 budget for the county began in September. According to a press release issued by GBHS in early September, board Deputy Director Jeff Crenshaw cited the Enabling Act of 1945 as the reason for possibly terminating the contract. Under that law, the county is forbidden from contracting out work that could be performed just as well, effectively and economically by county employees.
While the board was still considering its options for maintaining or eliminating the contract in September, the GBHS was given a $450,000 cap for the annual animal control services they provide. However, so far this year the organization has spent only about $215,000.
According to GBHS, more than 80,000 people signed a petition and wrote letters between the beginning of September and the Oct. 13 meeting in support of the board extending the contract.
“Today a decision was made that moves Birmingham forward,” The GBHS posted on its Facebook on Oct. 13. “Today reaffirmed that the animal care and control services offered through GBHS’ current contract have exceeded the county’s expectation. These services don’t just help taxpayers save money, they also allow stray, injured and abandoned animals to have hope where they never had hope before.”