OTHELLO — The city of Othello will keep funding in its 2026 budget for a separate city fire department and increase the funding for the city’s animal shelter facility. The 2026 budget will be considered by Othello City Council members by mid-December. Funding for the fire department and the animal shelter were among the items on a list of potential expenditures. 

“Tonight is when we start saying yes or no to these budget items,” said Spencer Williams, the city’s finance officer, at the Nov. 10 council meeting.  

Council members had a series of budget workshops in September and October, and decided how to allocate city resources, with a list of possible expenditures left for further consideration. The list also included potential expenditures for parks, the Othello Police Department and its public works department.  

The fire department has been a subject of discussion in Othello since August 2024, when council members voted against a new contract with Adams County Fire District 5. The current contract ends in May 2026.  

The council will have four new members in 2026, and a new mayor. Mayor-Elect Ken Johnson said during the campaign that he would support reexamining the decision to end the contract. The 2026 budget includes about $306,000 for fire department expenses. Those include $125,000 for new turnout gear, $100,000 for improvements to the existing fire station, and $15,000 each for new radios and pagers.  

The city ended its contract with Adams County Pet Rescue in 2023, following the failure of contract negotiations. City officials signed a contract with Hands ‘n Paws, Moses Lake, instead, which stipulates that Hands ‘n Paws eventually owns the animals. City officials allocated about $340,000 to build a short-term shelter in 2024. 

The new shelter hasn’t been constructed yet. In late October, Heather Reed, Hands ‘n Paws shelter director, said the existing shelter isn’t adequate.  

“While we are doing everything, we can with what we have, our capacity to serve is very limited, (with) limited public access, limited volunteer space, and limited resources for the growing needs of our community,” Reed said during the Oct. 27 council meeting.  

Council members approved adding $100,000 to the animal shelter construction fund, which will come from real estate excise tax funds.  

Council members approved $200,000 for two new Othello Police Department patrol vehicles, which OPD Assistant Chief Aaron Garza said would get the city back on its vehicle replacement schedule. 

In earlier budget meetings, council members had approved one new patrol vehicle. However, council members had set aside $100,000 for the operation of the Othello Community Pool, pending the outcome of a vote for a $3.55 million bond to repair the pool. That bond is failing, so council members decided to reallocate that money to an additional OPD vehicle.