THE District Council of Grant will implement a new release fee for dogs held at its facility, equivalent to the daily holding fee.
Elected members voted to approve the change at the March council meeting with other fees including a $70 holding fee.
Dog registration fees will also be increased to $41 per year, a 5.1 per cent increase from 2023-2024.
According to a staff report, council received a total income from dog registration and associated dog control fees in 2022-2023 of $115,984.
Direct expenses were $124,728 and in-direct expenses were $68,162 resulting in a net cost to council of $76,906 year to date.
During the time of the report there were 2917 dogs recorded on the dog and cat online system in the District Council of Grant area.
The report stated the revenue generated from dog registrations allowed council to “fund the administration” and “enforcement costs” associated with the management of dogs in the council area.
The costs associated with dog control include staff salaries, training, work cover, information technology, administration, legal fees, rehoming, the dogs and cats online and other expenses.
The report stated this change would result in a fee structure which “maintains the median charge” of 68 councils across the state.
