Carolina Journal’s Mitch Kokai looks at the scratched (for now) funding plan for the N.C. Zoo:
The shift of General Fund money — from state taxpayers — was tied to a plan to change the way the Randolph County-based zoo could use its Special Zoo Fund. The plan would have allowed the zoo to steer some gate receipts toward construction projects. Zoo supporters depend largely on the Assembly to approve specific expansion projects.
The proposed change would have helped the zoo address more than $123 million in building and other capital costs expected during the next decade, according to zoo officials. That money includes planning for a new Asian exhibit, to join the zoo’s existing exhibits covering North America and Africa.
What I find interesting is how zoo officials are turning to the state for more money before they see how development in the wake of Asheboro’s approval of alcohol sales plays out. Remember a major talking point of alcohol advocates was hotels were reluctant to develop around the zoo if they could have a bar —- thus greatly reducing the number of overnight visitors. It also seems to me that such developments would be ideal partners with the zoo.
