§19-20-10. Dog and kennel fund; disposition thereof.

All registration fees, head taxes, and fees and costs for impounding and disposing of dogs, as provided in this article, and collected thereunder, shall be paid into the county treasury where they shall constitute and be set aside as a special fund to be designated the "dog and kennel fund."

The county commission shall expend such fund, and issue drafts payable therefrom, for the following purposes, and no others: To pay the actual expenses incurred by the county commission, the county assessor, and the sheriff in carrying out the provisions of this article; to pay for the services of the dog warden, his deputies, poundkeepers, and such other persons as may be employed, if any, or may render services, in actually carrying out the provisions of this article; to pay in its discretion to the dog warden and his deputies mileage at the rate up to 15¢ per mile for the use of their privately owned vehicles actually used in carrying out the provisions of this article; to pay for the purchase, procurement, rental, construction, operation, maintenance and repair of any property, devices or facilities reasonably necessary and required to carry out the provisions of this article; to compensate any department of the state government or any local board of health for any necessary service rendered in connection with this article; to pay the costs of any rabies control project or program authorized by law; to compensate any persons who have suffered loss or damage on account of the destruction, loss, or injury by dogs of any sheep, lamb, goat, kid or poultry, when such claims have been proved and allowed as provided in this article: Provided, however, That such compensation authorized by the county commission shall not exceed an amount double the assessed value of the destroyed or injured animals or poultry as shown on the assessor's records, and in the event such animals are not assessed, then compensation authorized by said court shall not exceed the average assessed value of like animals or poultry, or if no like animal or poultry is assessed, then not to exceed the fair market value as determined by the county commission.

In the event that the dog and kennel fund shall in any year be insufficient to pay the several items set forth in this section, then the county commission may be, and it is hereby, authorized and empowered to pay such items out of the county general fund. Any surplus of the dog and kennel fund remaining unexpended in the county treasury, and, in the opinion of the county commission, not needed for the payment and satisfaction of claims and expenses as herein provided, shall annually be paid into and credited to the county school fund, but the funds thus used shall be in an amount deemed proper and safe in the judgment and discretion of the county commission.