Oshkosh will host a public hearing at City Hall on Nov. 4 before the Common Council votes to approve the budget at the Nov. 11 council meeting.
Oshkosh Humane Society Nearing Capacity: Urgent Request for Cat Adoptions
The Oshkosh Area Humane Society is full and urgently seeking cat adoptions. This video was created using the Wochit AI tool.
Wochi
- The City of Oshkosh has proposed cutting the Oshkosh Area Humane Society’s share of the 2026 budget by more than 44 percent.
- Residents have expressed significant online backlash against the proposed reduction in funding for the zoo.
- Despite the proposed cut, the city’s overall budget aims to avoid cutting existing services and lower the property tax rate.
OSHKOSH – Not everyone seems happy with the city’s budget proposal.
Scores of residents have expressed outrage over the City of Oshkosh’s proposal to cut its contribution to the Oshkosh Area Humane Society by just over 44% of the 2026 operating budget.
According to the city’s proposed “Animal Care Budget,” Oshkosh plans to pay the nonprofit $60,000 next year, down significantly from the $107,582 allocated this year.
What are people saying?
The proposal was met with fierce backlash online, with one resident emailing Northwestern saying, “Many of us are shocked that the city would decide to cut funding to one of the few organizations that literally save lives every day, both animal and human.”
Another community member called it a “bitter and heartless decision to cut their budget even by a dime” in response to one of the city’s Facebook posts about the proposed budget.
“Cutting funding to the Oshkosh Area Humane Society in half is no way to save your budget,” the person wrote.
What are the finances of OAHS?
OAHS Executive Director Ieva Engel declined to comment, saying the society would prefer to speak with City Manager Rebecca Grilli before making a public presentation.
A quick look at the nonprofit’s 990 form showed that the society has just over $1.97 million in revenue and nearly $9 million in total assets.
Registered as a private, independent charity, OAHS receives 105 grants from 43 grantmakers, according to online documents.
Since 2014, the city’s donations to the community have been made out of one in four of the Oshkosh Police Department’s budget.
What led to the city’s proposed cuts to OAHS funding?
Police Chief Dean Smith explained that the cuts were proposed to “right-size” some inefficiencies during a difficult budget session where the city had to find savings as part of the 2026 proposals.
Smith said the department looked at the Neenah Animal Shelter and the Fox Valley Humane Association and determined OPD would have $12,000 in spending for OAHS using those funding models.
“We understand we’re in a tight budget time, and we’re trying to be fair to everybody, but we also have to respect the taxpayers,” Smith told Northwestern.
“We started reviewing our budgets to find inefficiencies and checked with surrounding jurisdictions, and we thought it was best to get our spending right.”
Despite starting the budget process with a $6.1 million deficit, the city is proposing no cuts to existing services, while maintaining a flat $47 million levy and lowering the tax rate from $8.14 to $7.73.
In crafting her first Oshkosh budget, City Manager Rebecca Grill also recommended $1.1 million from the general fund to balance the 2026 budget, setting the total operating budget at $236,238,946, up from $233.5 million.
Oshkosh will host a public hearing at City Hall on Nov. 4 before the Common Council votes to approve the budget at the Nov. 11 council meeting.
What should I know about OAHS?
Founded in 1991, OAHS serves more than 3,200 animals annually in its 13,000-square-foot shelter at 1925 Shelter Court. It offers affordable clinic services and a Pet Pantry to support local pets and families.
The society said it faced a cat shortage earlier this month with 151 cats in its care, 51 of which were available for adoption, 79 in foster homes and 21 awaiting sterilization, redemption or space on the adoption floor.
There is also a waiting list for cats to be surrendered by community members who can no longer care for them.
The national Shelter Animals Count database revealed that US shelters and rescues took in 2.8 million dogs and cats in the first half of the year, down 4% from the same period in 2024.
Contact Justin Marville at [email protected] and follow him on X (formerly Twitter) @justinmarville.