Zoo: Admission increase should go back to zoo, not Tucson's general fund

It’s merely a proposal, but the Reid Park Zoological Society wants one thing made clear: Any admission increase at the zoo needs to go back to the zoo and not to Tucson’s general fund.

City Manager Michael Ortega suggested a $3 entrance fee increase as one of several ideas to help offset the city’s anticipated budget deficit of over $42 million next fiscal year. Currently, adults are charged $9 to enter the zoo, children $5 and seniors pay $7.

That same fee increase received a letter of support from the zoo’s board of directors one year ago, said Nancy Schlegel, president of the zoological society, but with one significant difference: the money would be for the zoo, not for the city.

Under the plan proposed last year by the zoo’s administrator, Jason Jacobs, the $3 increase would include $2.50 going toward the zoo’s maintenance costs and 50 cents would support related conservation projects.

Schlegel said they feel compelled to speak out now, before there’s any further action by the city.

“We certainly appreciate all of the city’s support for the zoo, but we feel strongly that if our visitors pay an increased fee, they will want to see it used for the zoo,” Schlegel said. “We’re just so proud of the zoo and we want to make sure it’s kept up.”

Waterlines, the sewer and crumbling walls are among many maintenance needs the zoo has now, she said. And a visitor survey completed in the last couple of years shows zoo-goers would support the price increase, she said.

Information about zoo fees was provided along with many other ideas as part of a continuing conversation about Tucson’s budget, said Lane Mandle, communications coordinator for Ortega’s office.

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“No official recommendation has been made regarding the fees,” Mandle wrote in an email. “The city recognizes that the Zoological Society is an essential partner in maintaining this wonderful community resource, and we will continue to work closely with them.”

City Councilmembers Karin Uhlich and Shirley Scott said they need more information before deciding what to do to offset the city’s funding needs.

“I would prefer that it stay with the zoo, but if it is a desperate need on the part of the city to maintain other services, I’d have to give it a good look,” said Scott of Ward 4.

Uhlich of Ward 3 said she considers taking that money “one of the least desirable” of several ideas the city manager presented.

“However, I don’t think I’m in a position to say that anything can be ruled out entirely at this point,” she said. “It’s the manager’s job to lay out all the options for us.”

City Councilman Steve Kozachik of Ward 6 said raising fees at the zoo right now would be “self-defeating.”

“Every time we’ve raised the fees out there, it’s been timed with a new exhibit,” he said. He said the city and the zoo should instead look for ways to increase the number of visitors so revenue can go up that way. Entertainment attractions don’t typically rely on their admissions as much as they do on the sale of food, drinks and merchandise, he said.

“If we can make the experience more enjoyable for visitors through upgrades to the facility, then we may overcome any new and higher fees,” Kozachik said, “but that demand needs to be studied before we just go off and raise costs.”