Belleville Council approved the increase in a 9-0 recorded vote. The pre-budget approval increase will have a property tax impact of 0.19% in the 2026 Operating Budget.
The current Pound Services Contract between Belleville and Humane Society Hastings Prince Edward (HSHPE) is set to expire at the end of the year. While the Humane Society operates as a charitable nonprofit, they operate with the same financial discipline as a corporation and securing this renewal is essential for their ability to budget responsibly for the up-coming year. Allowing for pre-budget approval of these service costs will allow staff to draft and execute a contract that meets Council’s Level of Service.
Records show that only a modest annual cost-of-living adjustment has been applied since at least 2017. The broader issue of under-evaluation became evident when HSHPE transitioned into their new facility and conducted a comprehensive review of all contracts, with the objective of developing a sustainable service model for the future.
At this stage, HSHPE initiated engagement with the City of Belleville to address the underfunding of the service being provided. For purposes of due diligence and transparency, City staff requested that HSHPE conduct a comprehensive cost analysis to help determine an appropriate funding model for the service moving forward and also to ensure accountability for the recommended changes.
According to the report, in 2024 and 2025, the City of Peterborough’s contract with Peterborough Humane Society was $445K and $456K respectively.
Each year, HSHPE repays over $30,000 toward loan repayments of their new facility, and nearly $40,000 in property taxes as the site is located in the City of Belleville.
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