{"id":430947,"date":"2026-09-09T20:10:21","date_gmt":"2026-09-09T20:10:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/430947\/"},"modified":"2026-09-09T20:10:21","modified_gmt":"2026-09-09T20:10:21","slug":"unpaid-el-paso-animal-services-bills-hit-1-5-million","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/430947\/","title":{"rendered":"Unpaid El Paso Animal Services bills hit $1.5 million"},"content":{"rendered":"

All seven entities that contract with the city of El Paso\u2019s Animal Services kept their agreements when they renewed Sept. 1 despite higher shelter-service costs that have left some owing thousands of dollars in unpaid bills.<\/p>\n

The city was still owed about $1.5 million from four local governments as of Aug. 12, including about $1 million from El Paso County, about $84,000 from San Elizario, $261,000 from Horizon and $84,000 from Fort Bliss. In mid-July, the city was owed about $1.8 million from various entities \u2013 some which paid down their bills while others just kept increasing.<\/p>\n

Several of the entities stopped or delayed payments to Animal Services last year when the city increased the cost of accepting and caring for animals from outlying jurisdictions in 2024. The city increased the intake fee from $60 to $100 and removed the cap that previously limited how many days the city could charge the daily fee. Previously, the city charged $18 a day for up to six days per animal. Now, it charges $27 a day for as long as the animal remains in the shelter.<\/p>\n

The agreements automatically renew each fiscal year after the city adopts its annual budget and tax rate<\/a>. The rates did not increase for the 2027 fiscal year that started on Sept. 1.<\/p>\n

\"\"A puppy looks out a kennel at the city of El Paso\u2019s Animal Services shelter on Fred Wilson Avenue. Animals often stay at the shelter from 30 to 45 days. (Corrie Boudreaux)<\/p>\n

El Paso County Chief Administrator Betsy Keller said the county is auditing invoices to ensure the animals for which they\u2019re being charged are from within the county limits. The county has made two large payments to the city \u2013 about $251,000 in 2025 and about $741,000 in July \u2013 and is working to settle the remaining balance.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have not received a report from the staff yet regarding the audit outcomes or updates, but this is in progress. We are hopeful that we can come to a more clear agreement and billing guidelines,\u201d Deputy County Administrator Joel Bishop said.<\/p>\n

The higher costs have some entities trying to renegotiate the agreement to make it more financially feasible.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m really hoping for them (the city) \u2013 that they agree to go back to the early 2024 rates or terms,\u201d San Elizario Mayor Miguel Chacon said.<\/p>\n

San Elizario sent a formal letter to the city Aug. 13 that states it finds the \u201cproposed rates for the upcoming contract renewal term unacceptable.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"Among other things, the Animal Protection Field Operations program of the city\u2019s Animal Services is charged with investigating animal bites and safety concerns. (Courtesy Animal Services)<\/p>\n

The city of El Paso declined to comment on any potential contract negotiations as they are still under review.<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t have any problems paying $5,000-$6,000 per month, but now we are into the $18,000-$16,000 per month \u2013 so that\u2019s why I\u2019m approaching it (the agreement) \u2013 to negotiate those terms to put it back again to alleviate the financial burden to our city, especially our size,\u201d Chacon said.<\/p>\n

Removing the cap on the number of days the city of El Paso charges per animal is not financially sustainable, he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

San Elizario does not have funding to build its own shelter, but also cannot afford to pay the higher costs for the agreement with the city. Chacon said they stopped paying the invoices earlier this year. In July, their outstanding balance was about $52,000.<\/p>\n

\"\"The El Paso County Animal Welfare Department holds an adoption event at the Fountains at Farah in October 2025. (Courtesy El Paso County)<\/p>\n

The city of El Paso sends the partner municipalities weekly intake numbers for animals that are taken to the city shelter from their jurisdictions.<\/p>\n

Interim Animal Services director Michael Wachsmann said the fees are necessary to cover the associated costs of caring for animals at the shelter that include factors such as their medical condition, any treatment required and their length of stay.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s a financial attachment to the animals,\u201d Wachsmann said. \u201cWe want there to be some kind of ownership of these animals.\u201d<\/p>\n

He said the mission remains keeping animals out of the shelter.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt the end of the day, we\u2019re trying to get animals into loving homes as quickly as possible,\u201d he said. \u201cWe don\u2019t want them to be here for those extra long days.\u201d<\/p>\n

The county is in the design phase of a $32.7 million animal shelter approved by voters in 2024 and last month approved a $21 million construction manager-at-risk contract with Dantex Construction Company Inc. The shelter is not expected to open until late\u00a0 2029 and is expected to accommodate about 290 dogs and 100 cats, along with limited space for other animals to serve the county and unincorporated areas.<\/p>\n

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