AR-News: AR NEWS: NN to end contract with SPCA in '04

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http://www.dailypress.com/news/dp-spca_091003,0,2501285.story?coll=dp-headline
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By Fred Carroll
Daily Press

September 10, 2003, 11:36 AM EDT

NEWPORT NEWS -- Newport News will terminate its contract with the local 
animal shelter in June 2004, citing the shelter's failure to explain how it would 
remedy numerous bookkeeping errors and questionable spending uncovered by city 
auditors.

City officials hope the nine-month delay will give them enough time to create 
some sort of regional authority that would handle animal-control services 
instead of the Peninsula Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, which 
is on J. Clyde Morris Boulevard in Newport News.

Until then, city officials expect to redo the existing contract to keep more 
control over public dollars.

Newport News and Hampton have contracted since 1976 with the SPCA for 
animal-control services, such as enforcing animal-related laws, adopting abandoned 
kittens and humanely killing unclaimed animals.

Tax dollars from the two cities account for nearly $1 million of the 
shelter's $1.6 million budget. York County and Poquoson also contract for services.

Council members voted 6-0, with Bert Bateman abstaining, late Tuesday to end 
the contract. They also gave the SPCA until Nov. 1 to respond to the audit's 
findings.

Fred Carroll can be reached at 247-4756 or by e-mail at 
fcarroll at dailypress.com 
Copyright © 2003, Daily Press 
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