CASA
Donations are still needed
Dear Editor:
I am writing this letter with reservations.
I was very sad to see the letter recently written that criticized the current operation of the CASA shelter. It worried me because it sounded like the writer is convinced that the CASA Board of Directors is sitting on a small fortune in money that is not needed for the day-to-day operation of the animal shelter, but should be used to improve the current shelter building or spent towards construction of a totally new building.
It sounded like the writer was encouraging Camano islanders to no longer donate funds for CASA because they are no longer needed. That is far from the truth.
At a regularly scheduled Friends of CASA meeting I attended on March 4 this year, a financial report was presented by the current treasurer, Cathy Massimino.
I think the information made clear the actual financial situation of CASA.
I would like to show a brief overview of this information.
Projected expenses for the CASA Animal Shelter for 2010 are approximately $140,294, including all costs to run the shelter, food, maintenance, animal care, employee pay, etc.)
Estimated income for 2010 is approximately $93,623, including $26,733 from Island County. That amount was cut by 10 percent from last year’s amount because of the poor economy. It also includes other means of income, including financial donations from local contributors.
There is a potential shortage of $46,471 for 2010 that will have to be made up somehow. It will most likely come from the savings. So, if there is approximately $90,000 in CDs, over half of that amount will be gone by the end of 2010 to cover the expenses to keep the CASA shelter operating.
If the year 2011 continues along the same path, there will not be any extra money left. Quite an eye opener, isn’t it?
There really isn’t any extra money lying around that can be spent on a new building or even to improve the current county-owned facility.
The CASA Board of Directors and the volunteers who make up the Friends of CASA will have to work hard this year trying to earn as much money as they can. A large part of that comes from donations from the community. So, please don’t think that CASA can continue to operate without the generous help that comes from the people in the area.
Camano Island’s homeless dogs and cats do need your help.
Connie Parker Camano Island
