Collin County commissioners approved a measure Monday, April 6, to begin improvements to the county animal shelter after determining a 2023 bond package will not cover the full cost of a new facility.

The motion, approved unanimously, allows the county to begin using available cash on hand for upgrades to the existing shelter. Planned improvements include replacing the heating and air conditioning system, adding 8,800 square feet to animal housing areas and constructing an isolation room for animals with communicable diseases.

The decision comes as officials grapple with a funding shortfall tied to the $5.7 million bond voters approved in 2023 for a new animal shelter. County Administrator Yoon Kim reported that the money earmarked from the bond issue falls short of what the county needs to complete the job. Kim said updated estimates place the total cost closer to $11.1 million, far exceeding the original allocation.

Kim also reported a sharp increase in animal intake in recent years, mirroring the county’s population growth. Since 2020, the number of unwanted dogs has increased 43%, while the cat population has grown 116%. The shelter operated at or above capacity every day in 2025, he said.

Additional pressure is expected as cities reevaluate participation in the county’s shelter system. Frisco plans to withdraw from the cooperative agreement in November 2028, and McKinney has also indicated its intent to leave. However, County Judge Chris Hill said McKinney officials are expected to present a proposal aimed at continuing collaboration with the county to address overcrowding.

The original bond proposal envisioned construction of a 10,000-square-foot facility. Rising construction costs and earlier underestimates, Kim said, have made that figure unrealistic. Complicating matters further, language in the bond restricts spending to improvements at the current shelter site rather than building at a new location.

Deputy County Administrator Russell Shofner told commissioners the existing shelter, built in 2006, also measures about 10,000 square feet. Shofner said the county currently had approximately $1.1 million in bond funds remain available for improvements, with about $800,000 already spent on preliminary or “soft” costs to the site.

Shofner cautioned that the county “cannot build its way out of this problem,” though Hill pushed back, saying the county could address the issue through additional investment if it chose to do so.

Commissioner Susan Fletcher expressed concern about current conditions at the shelter, calling them inadequate. She said the situation reflects broader growth challenges facing the county.

The measure to begin improvements passed unanimously.

The next meeting of the Collin County commissioners is 1:30 p.m., Monday, April 13.

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