Commissioners draining ‘Rainy Day Fund’
To the editor: In 2016, the Hancock County Commission offered a nonprofit that was operating the animal shelter $88,000 from the county’s “general account” to continue to operate the shelter for fiscal year 2017. Combined with the $100,000 annual Animal Shelter Excess Levy, the nonprofit would receive a total of $188,000 in taxpayer funds. The nonprofit agreed. However, the commissioners also mandated changes to the shelter operation contract so detrimental to the welfare of the animals, the nonprofit would not sign the modified contract. The result was the commissioners removed ...