Daviess County Fiscal Court is expected to cast a pivotal vote tonight to determine the future of the county’s animal shelter operations. They will decide whether or not to approve a partnership with the nonprofit organization It Takes a Village, transitioning the shelter’s management and spay-neuter clinic services to a nonprofit model.
The move comes after extensive community discussion, a year-long evaluation of alternative funding structures, and what county officials say has been misinformation spread among community members. Officials have also emphasized the potential move is not a funding cut, but a restructuring to improve operations and increase the shelter’s long-term viability.
How it all began
The conversation around the future of the Daviess County Animal Shelter began approximately a year ago, when concerns arose about the shelter’s spay-neuter program. The program, which initially served low-income families and public assistance recipients, was found to be providing services to animals from outside Daviess County — an unintended consequence that prompted the Fiscal Court to reevaluate its policies.
“When it was brought to our attention that taxpayer money was being used for services on animals from surrounding counties, we knew we had to make changes,” said County Commissioner Chris Castlen. “We wanted to ensure that our resources were being utilized appropriately and sustainably.”
In April 2024, the Fiscal Court limited the spay-neuter clinic to serve only Daviess County residents who qualified under income guidelines. Simultaneously, Judge-Executive Charlie Castlen directed staff to explore alternative shelter funding models used in comparable communities. Research included visits to shelters in Bowling Green/Warren County and Hardin County, where nonprofit organizations manage shelter operations with county support.
“The Warren County model really stood out to us,” said Judge-Executive Castlen. “They’ve been doing this for 25 years, and their ability to leverage grants and donations alongside county funding has made their operations incredibly sustainable. While our numbers may not match theirs immediately, we believe this is a path worth pursuing.”
Addressing misconceptions
Throughout the process, Fiscal Court faced criticism and public concern, much of it stemming from what officials say was misinformation shared on social media. Posts suggesting the county was planning to defund the shelter led to public outcry, prompting officials to clarify their intentions.
“The claim that we’re defunding the shelter is absolutely not true,” said Judge-Executive Castlen. “What we’re doing is restructuring the funding to ensure long-term sustainability. The $550,000 allocated to It Takes a Village represents full funding for current operations. This isn’t a cut — it’s a transition.”
Former County Treasurer Jim Hendrix, who has taken the lead in guiding the financial aspects of this transition, elaborated on the budget process to dispel misconceptions.
“People mistakenly equate the total expenses listed on the budget with funding,” Hendrix explained. “For the animal shelter, people see the total expense page, notice a lower funding figure, and assume we’ve made cuts. But, we subtract all revenues and non-recurring expenses from that total expense figure. Revenues already pay for certain expenses, so we wouldn’t fund those twice.”
Hendrix continued, “To clarify, the $550,000 allocated to It Takes a Village represents full funding for current operations. We reviewed the last two years and took the higher number to ensure the shelter was fully funded at the current operating level. This isn’t a funding cut.”
Hendrix said it’s also important to note that the $550,000 only covers the allocation to the nonprofit, not the total expense for the county.
“You’d need to add building expenses and animal control expenses, which the county still pays,” he said. “The $550,000 is the net figure after subtracting revenues, non-recurring expenses, and costs we’re retaining. That number strictly pertains to what It Takes a Village will manage.”
Why the County chose It Takes a Village
It Takes a Village, a nonprofit with shelters in Evansville and Spencer County, submitted the winning proposal after the county issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the shelter’s management. Their experience, commitment to animal welfare, and track record of successful operations made them the ideal choice, according to officials.
“One of the key factors was finding a group with experience in this area—people who know what they’re doing and have a solid track record of running animal shelters or similar operations. We wanted an organization that could provide consistent care and had the ability to fundraise to enhance services beyond what our budget allows,” Conder said. “Their proposal clearly aligned with what we were looking for.”
The contract with It Takes a Village includes provisions for financial transparency, a priority for the Fiscal Court. Conder requested they provide an annual Form 990 and detailed reports showing how much money is donated from Daviess County and how it’s used,
“Their willingness to include these measures demonstrates their commitment to transparency,” Conder said.
Why It Takes a Village chose Daviess County
According to CEO Amanda Green, the organization is well-equipped to manage shelter operations in Daviess County.
“We’ve worked with the Daviess County shelter for years, pulling animals to our facilities when they were overcrowded. This partnership allows us to serve more animals and expand our reach in the tri-state area,” Green said.
Green, who graduated from Owensboro High School, also shared the history of It Takes a Village.
“We started in Evansville in 2010 as a foster-based rescue. A small group of animal lovers saw a need for more comprehensive care, especially for homeless and abandoned animals,” she explained. “We operated without a building for the first few years. Then we won a $25,000 grant, which helped us get a building, and we’ve continued to grow.”
Green noted that their partnership with Spencer County is very similar to the one they are pursuing with Daviess County. Green said that was a successful transition, and she expects the same in Daviess County.
“The shelter was run by Spencer County, and we took it over. Spencer County provides small funding to help run the shelter and act as animal control, but we’ve managed it successfully for five years,” she said.
Structure of agreement
Under the proposed agreement, It Takes a Village will assume responsibility for shelter and clinic operations, while the County retains oversight of animal control, as required by state law. Current shelter and clinic staff will have the opportunity to transition to employment under It Takes a Village, ensuring continuity in operations.
“We’ve met with the staff, and from what we’ve heard, most of them plan to stay,” Green said. “We’re also looking to add new roles, such as more kennel technicians and an outreach coordinator for Daviess County.”
Saying the Evansville location is no subsidations from any government entity, Green stressed the nonprofit’s funding model relies on grants, donations, and fundraising events. She said those efforts will be expanded to include Daviess County.
“We’ve looked into participating in local events to raise funds and build community relationships. Our goal is to develop a low-cost spay-neuter clinic accessible to all residents, particularly low-income families,” she added.
Commissioner Castlen emphasized the importance of nonprofit involvement in securing additional resources.
“Nonprofits can access grants and donations that governments cannot,” he explained. “This model allows for additional funding streams, which is critical for sustainability.”
Asked if the current guidelines for Daviess County’s spay-neuter clinic would remain the same, Green said they don’t plan to change it unless necessary.
“We’ll evaluate the program, see where the funding is coming from, and determine if any adjustments are needed,” she said. “If everything works as it is, we won’t make changes.”
Green also said the shelter will only take in animals from Daviess County.
“The animals at the shelter will continue to come only from Daviess County,” she said. “If the shelter ever becomes full, we might pull animals to our Evansville or Spencer County locations to ensure every animal gets adopted. But our main focus there will remain on Daviess County animals, just like how we operate in Spencer County.”
The Road Ahead
If approved tonight, the partnership will take effect on April 1, 2025.
“We’ve structured this intentionally to allow time for a smooth transition,” said Judge-Executive Castlen.
Green echoed this optimism, highlighting the organization’s track record of success.
“In Evansville, we started with nothing and have since helped over 13,000 animals,” she said. “We’re very excited about this partnership with Daviess County. We look forward to becoming a part of the community, learning more about what works best for everyone, and continuing to help animals.”
Commissioner Castlen said he understands why people may have had concerns because it would be a significant change to operations. He counted himself among those with questions early on, but now supports the proposal.
“The community’s questions are valid, and I’m glad people care enough to ask them,” he said. “We’ve done our due diligence, and out of all the options we considered, this approach seems to be the best for the community — not just financially but also for the animals.”
Conder said he believes much of the public outcry was a result of poor communication from Fiscal Court in the early stages of the evaluation.
“We didn’t clearly explain the problems we were addressing, the steps we were taking, and where we wanted to go,” he said. “That led to a lot of misunderstandings and confusion, which could have been avoided with better communication. That said, we’ve done our due diligence, and this approach looks like the best option for the community overall.”
Conder also clarified that residents could still make direct donations to the shelter through the Daviess County Fiscal Court. Those funds can be earmarked by the donor for specific purposes rather than going to the allocation to It Takes a Village.
“Donations can be made to the Carl Henry account, which ensures the funds are used as directed by the donor. This provides an additional way for the community to support the shelter,” he explained.
Judge-Executive Castlen said that if the partnership is approved, the county is committed to ensuring a smooth transition and has high hopes for the future of the shelter.
“We structured the agreement to practically guarantee their success,” he said. “With their love of animals and their proven track record in other communities, and not having to worry about the building, I believe they’ll be able to focus fully on caring for the animals. Within a year, I think the community will be very pleased we made this decision.”
County Commissioner Janie Marksberry declined to comment Wednesday and reserved her remarks for the meeting.
