City Funds Are Going To The Dogs In Time Of Cuts In Services, Voters Had Other Cuts In Mind

At the same time the city of Spokane is cutting back services to residents, it’s preparing to offer new services to cats and dogs.

Spay and neuter services, to be exact.

Voters gave their overwhelming support Tuesday to a ballot initiative that dedicates one-tenth of 1 percent of the city’s general fund for the fixing of the city’s house pets.

That’s $97,450 of next year’s spending plan.

“No, we do not have that put aside,” City Manager Roger Crum said Wednesday. Crum has proposed several service cuts in the 1996 spending plan, such as doing away with the DARE program and cutting back on street cleaning.

As for what more might be cut to make dollars for the pet program, Crum said: “We don’t know - in all honesty.”

“I’m flabbergasted,” said Councilman Chris Anderson, a vocal opponent of the initiative when it came before the council for approval.

“How wrong I was in reading the desires of the public,” Anderson said. “But, the people have spoken, and I’ll work to get it in place.”

Initiative sponsor LaVerne Kettlety was delighted by the election results.

“The little domestic animals are an important part of our lives,” she said. “We feel this is the agent of change in Spokane for the better, as far as domestic pets are concerned.”

Not so fast, said attorney Steve Eugster, who says the initiative violates the state’s constitution.

“That’s like going down to City Hall and asking for 45 bucks,” Eugster said. “It’s very amazing.”

State law prohibits the “gifting of public funds to a private entity or person, unless it is a poor or infirm person,” Eugster said. “You cannot just make gifts to some South Hill maven.”

The measure contains no specifics about who would be eligible for the program.

Eugster plans to challenge the spay-neuter program if the city doesn’t, he said.

City attorney Jim Sloane could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

Kettlety said a legal challenge to her initiative would be a slap to the voters who supported it.

“People will benefit so much, and the little animals,” Kettlety said. “It’s a wonder why we didn’t do this a long time ago.”

, DataTimes