Budget 'Revenue Enhancements' Going to the Dogs

Dog lovers may be ponying up a little more for their pooches' licenses soon, if the approves an increase to the license fees and a change to multi-year licenses.

While no specific increase has been determined, committee members discussed the possibilty of increasing the fees, as well as enforcement, at the April 12 meeting. During the discussion, Township Administrator Mark Krane said the township now sends letters to pet owners as a reminder to renew pet licenses.

"What we've learned is, unless you send people the letter, they just don't pay attention," Krane said.

The discussion stemmed from the township's dramatic drop in pet licenses in recent years. In 2011, the township sent letters to notify residents and issued 295 licenses.

But Committeeman Gary DiNardo pointed out the cost to send the reminders as the may be nearly as much as the revenue the $7 annual licenses return to the township.

Consequently, Krane suggested the committee consider issuing multi-year licenses, that may be coordinated with the mandatory once-every-three-years rabies vacinations.

"We need to raise the fees," Committeeman Mick Marion said.