Fulton County Animal Control Services in Atlanta May be Suspended due to Payment Dispute

Fulton County is threatening to suspend animal control services in the city of Atlanta if the city does not sign the new Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) and pay the increased costs by April 3rd. This decision comes after the county notified all 15 cities in July that the cost of animal control services was going up and sent them the new IGA with the price increase in October. While all other cities have signed the agreement, Atlanta has not, citing a desire to resolve differences with the county. The county officials claim the price increase is necessary due to rising costs of animal care and believe it would be illegal to continue providing services without a signed agreement.

Fulton County Chairman Robb Pitts stated that 55% of all animal control calls come from the city of Atlanta, making it a significant portion of their services. Despite not increasing prices for animal control services in six years, rising costs of supplies and medical care for animals have necessitated the price increase. Commissioner Bob Ellis noted that costs for items like dog and pet food have risen by 25-30% in the past few years. The county believes it would not be legal to continue providing services to Atlanta without a contract in place, citing constitutional and state law considerations.

The city of Atlanta has not signed the new IGA and agreed to pay the increased costs, likely due to the substantial price hike requested by the county. While negotiations are ongoing between Fulton County officials and Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, it appears that renegotiating the price tag is not an option. County officials have emphasized that the increase is necessary to cover operating expenses and ensure fairness to the other 14 cities that have signed the agreement and are paying the increased costs. They have stated that there is no surcharge or profit margin built into the price increase for the county.

Fulton County officials have given Atlanta a deadline of April 3rd to sign the new IGA and pay the increased costs or face termination of animal control services within the city limits. The officials argue that providing services without a contract and financial consideration is not permissible under state law and constitutional provisions. Despite efforts to negotiate with the city, the county maintains that the price increase is necessary to cover rising costs of animal care and ensure fairness across all 15 cities in Fulton County. The situation highlights the complexities of intergovernmental agreements and the challenges of providing essential services in a fair and equitable manner.