Zoo director: The city is in a financial crisis and must reduce its spending. Nevertheless, at least one reduction measure in next year' s budget, cutting City Zoo' s funding in half, is false economy. The zoo' s current budget equals less than 1 percent of the city' s deficit
withdrawing support from the zoo does little to help the city' s financial situation. Furthermore, the zoo, which must close if its budget is cut, attracts tourists and tax dollars to the city. Finally, the zoo adds immeasurably to the city' s cultural climate and thus makes the city an attractive place for business to locate.
The city's educational and cultural climate will be irreparably damaged if the zoo is forced to close.