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DETROIT, Mar 2, 2006 (UPI via COMTEX) -- The Detroit City Council has reached a deal to keep the 75-year-old metro zoo from closing just when it appeared budget deficits might doom the facility.
Council members agreed Wednesday to surrender management of the Detroit Zoological Society, but the zoo must find $20 million to pay annual expenses. The Detroit News reported.
The zoo drew about 1 million visitors last year but ticket sales only brought in about $7 million a year. Still in limbo was a $4-million-state grant the Zoological Society forfeited when the council failed to agree on the zoo's future last weekend.
Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick said the city, which is dealing with a huge budget shortfall, can not afford the $5 million a year it gave to support the zoo, but will provide $10 million for capital improvements and $900,000 for security and insurance under the deal, the News said.
The society has hired a consultant to look at regional taxes to support the popular attraction.
"We have the hard work ahead of us," Society Chairman Gail Warden told the Detroit Free Press.
URL: www.upi.com Copyright 2006 by United Press International
