By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
The new director at the Golden Belt Humane Society, Emil Halfhill, went before the Great Bend City Council Monday night as part of the agencies that were requesting more funding from the city’s 2026 budget. Receiving $110,500 in the current budget, the Humane Society is requesting a $14,500 increase.
Halfhill said along with rising costs in veterinarian bills, the shelter has seen a decrease in the amount of adoptions.
"I think a lot of that issue is because our price isn't expensive, but it's expensive to own animals," said Halfhill. "We're holding those animals much longer which is a much greater cost incurred to us. Ultimately, everything else suffers because of it."
Based on 2023 numbers, the Humane Society handled 1,175 calls from Great Bend compared to 198 around the county.
Barton County upped their contribution to the Humane Society by $4,250 in 2025 for a total of $35,750. Halfhill said approximately 65% of the shelter’s budget comes from fundraisers.
"I would have never believed that our budget is contrived from so much of private funds," said Halfhill. "Unfortunately, if that 65% of the budget from private funds doesn't come in, we don't exist. If we don't exist, I'm not sure what the police department and other cities would be able to do for their animals."
Golden Belt Humane Society is one of five outside agencies that requested more funding from the City of Great Bend in the 2026 budget.