A legislative committee studying N.C. Zoo funding has decided to drop a proposal that would have forced taxpayers statewide to pay more for Zoo operations, while the Zoo would divert more of its gate receipts to its expansion plans.
Members admitted during a half-hour morning meeting that the bad state budget picture would doom the proposal. But Rep. Cullie Tarleton, D-Watauga, suggests the idea will return:
Unfortunately, our timing couldn’t be lousier for wanting to use the [state] Aquarium model for the North Carolina Zoo. But I support taking this out in light of what we all know we’re going to be facing.
But I would like all of us to recognize and acknowledge the need to keep this very much alive and on the table. You know, the North Carolina Zoo is unlike anything else we have in this state … that belongs to the state. Rules that apply to other state entities don’t always apply to the Zoo because of its uniqueness.
We have to recognize that, and I really hope that as we go forward, that we’ll keep revisiting this and say, “Can we do it now? Can we do it now?” Because it is something, folks, that we need to do. I mean, we just need to do it. And eventually we’ve just got to bite that bullet and do it. But I agree that our timing couldn’t be worse right now.
The committee will recommend that the new General Assembly make some changes next year to help the Zoo. One would expand the Zoo’s exemption from the Umstead Act provisions against state government competing with the private sector.
Another would allow Zoo contractors with “revenue-generating contracts” to “advertise, announce, or publicize” the contract. For example, the Zoo’s soft drink vendor could advertise its relationship with the zoo on “neck ringers, radio ad tags, etc.”
