The Butler Redevelopment Authority will begin charging tenants security deposits and monthly fees to keep pets.

Authority board members unanimously approved an update to the pet policy Thursday.

Effective May 1, the policy allows the authority to charge its public housing tenants a $200 security deposit for dogs and cats and $100 deposits for small pets such as fish and birds.

All pet-owning tenants will be charged a $25 monthly fee under the policy.

The authority will return the security deposits if no pet damage is found when tenants move out, said Veronica Walker, authority acting executive director and operations manager.

She said the policy does not allow tenants to baby-sit pets unless they sign the pet agreement.

In other business, the authority created a reserve and replacement account to pay for capital improvements at rental units.

The authority will take 5 percent of gross rent if all 12 rental units are full and 3.5 percent if all units aren't rented, and place the money into the account.

Walker said the money will be used to replace items, including appliances, windows and furnaces.

In addition, Walker said Boost Mobile, a subsidiary of Sprint, signed a two-year lease with the authority to rent a vacant shop at 145 N. Main St., a storefront adjacent to the Penn Theater. The business is expected to open in April.

The last tenant in that space was Deer Creek Winery.