Stanislaus County Supervisors Watch

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The Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors today is scheduled to:

— Consider lowering spay and neuter vouchers from $140 to $72 for male cats and to $113 for female cats. The same services for low-income pet owners would go from $72 to $50 for male cats and to $63 for female cats. Although vouchers cost less in neighboring counties, the price here includes an identification microchip, vaccination and license. Demand for dog vouchers has remained constant since new fees were established in July, but the fees apparently scared off cat owners; 51 vouchers were sold in the next five months compared with 330 in the same time frame a year earlier. Reducing the price should encourage more owners to spay and neuter cats, officials say. They also propose charging $203 to drop off pets for people who live in Oakdale, Riverbank, Turlock and Newman, which use other shelters.

— Approve a four-year plan for the Area Agency on Aging, whose budget in the coming fiscal year is expected to be $2.7 million. The plan includes starting peer depression counseling, coupons for farmers markets in West Side communities, discounted tickets for Gallo Arts Center events, a support group for lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender seniors, and continuing support for exercise classes.

— Exercise a right to a six-year contract extension with Covanta Stanislaus, which produces electricity by burning garbage near Crows Landing. The company's offer in yearlong negotiations could result in higher garbage fees, county officials say, so they recommend continued bargaining after the extension, pending agreement with Modesto, the county's partner in the plant.

— Review an annual report on public health, whose current budget is $25 million. The report will include a survey revealing that one-third of respondents needing health care could not get it and one-third were obese.

— Increase the charge for Juvenile Hall inmates from $19.75 to $24 per day. In the last fiscal year, officers collected $93,400 despite billing inmates' parents $777,400.

— Charge health care providers for county inmates. Putting out to bid a contract to care for about 1,500 detainees is resulting in a switch from California Forensic Medical Group, which held the contract for more than 20 years, to California Correct Care Solutions. The contract's base amount increases from $7.1 million for the coming fiscal year to $8.6 million in 2013.

—Consider hiring DeSilva Gates Construction of Dublin for $4 million to expand the working area of the Fink Road landfill starting in late May. CSW Contractors of Phoenix argues that its bid would save taxpayers $60,000 but is not recommended by county staff because of a minor paperwork error.

—Hear an annual report from Public Works, which maintains 1,600 miles of roads with a $64 million budget

— Establish and amend various fees for building permits and planning services, hoping to raise about $140,000 per year