By a difference of more than 1,000 votes, city of Jamestown residents passed the Jamestown City Measure Tuesday, agreeing to foot a half-mill tax levy increase to benefit the James River Humane Society.
The increase will cost a property owner of a $100,000 house about $2.25 per year. It will generate about $13,500 per year for the society's general operations, said Skip Olson, JRHS president.
"I'm very humbled by the support we've received from the community," she said.
The measure passed at the primary election Tuesday with 2,172 voters in favor of the measure and 1,169 opposed, in the unnoffficial tally.
Currently, the JRHS receives $1,500 from the city annually. That money goes towards its annual budget of about $85,000. The rest of the funds come from private donors and fundraisers the shelter holds twice a month, Olson said.
ADVERTISEMENT
The shelter has one part-time employee and about 24 volunteers.
A similar ballot measure was extended to Stutsman County voters in the 1980s. Records no longer exist for that election, county officials had said. Olson had said that measure failed by less than 1 percent.
The new revenue will help pay for expenses like veterinarian bills, supplies, taxes, insurance and snow removal, Olson said.
The James River Humane Society takes in about 150 animals per year and usually runs at capacity: 24 cats and 12 dogs. Capacity at the shelter will not expand, but the shelter itself will. The group is raising funds to construct a new building adjacent to the current one. The new building would give the animals space to play and run during the winter months when it's too cold and snowy to let them outside, Olson said.
Sun reporter Katie Ryan can be reached at 701-952-8454 or by e-mail at kryan@jamestownsun.com
