County supervisors will likely make a series of changes this week to the upcoming county government budget.

While it’s a stable budget with few major changes from the current year, one debate that’s expected to generate a passionate discussion is animal care.

In response to significant potential cuts to animal services, most supervisors have supported fee increases to cover a $626,000 funding gap.

The decision not to make cuts followed back-to-back pleas from nearly a dozen animal activists, shelter volunteers and members of the public.

On Tuesday, supervisors will decide on fee increases that would raise a little more than $800,000 this coming year. County staff also are expected to start planning a new animal shelter in Tustin and study the feasibility of creating smaller “satellite” shelters across the county.

The animal care decision is scheduled just before the county budget hearing at Tuesday’s meeting, which starts at 9:30 a.m.

You can reach Nick Gerda at ngerda@gmail.com, and follow him on Twitter: @nicholasgerda.

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