County Council Rejects Zoo Funding

This happened a few weeks ago and I forgot to make a post about it. Readers might remember that County Council president Paul Moss, who is also a sitting board member for the zoo, wanted to give $500k in economic development money the zoo. Keep in mind that the zoo has never received public funding. I've previously written that not only was this a blatant conflict of interest for councilman Moss, but also a genuinely bad idea.

Thankfully the county council agreed with myself, and the county commissioners, and voted against Moss' plan:

In August, the council pulled $500,000 from the highway department’s remaining CEDIT dollars for its own use. The council voted against giving that money to the zoo.

Councilman Roy Buskirk, R-at large, voted against the zoo funding. In his explanation, he referenced the highway department already facing a short-changed budget.

Also voting against the zoo funding, Councilwoman Maye Johnson, D-1st, said she was concerned that giving the zoo money would not create jobs, often a key factor for financing economic development projects.

While councilman Moss did abstain from the vote it still doesn't excuse his peddling of this proposal to begin with. And he's not done yet:

Moss said he would try to meet with the county commissioners to reach a compromise on the zoo issue after Councilman Cal Miller, R-4th, suggested giving just $250,000 to the zoo.

Hopefully the commissioners will continue to reject Moss' wasteful spending plans. For those that are interested here is the roll call vote for the zoo funding:

Against the funding:
Paula Hughes, R-2nd
Maye Johnson, D-1st
Patt Kite, R-at large
Roy Buskirk, R-at large

For it:
Cal Miller, R-4th
Darren Vogt, R-3rd

Abstained:
Paul Moss, R-at large

More Zoo Nonsense From the County Council

Kathleen Quilligan covered yesterday's county council meeting where the decision on whether or not to spend $500k in economic development money on the Fort Wayne Children's Zoo exhibit (I'm not kidding) was discussed.

In May, Council President Paul Moss, who also serves on the board of the zoo, asked council to consider the possibility of giving $500,000 in CEDIT money to the zoo for its African Journey exhibit. The total cost of the exhibit, expected to open in 2009, is $10.5 million.

Making the decision more difficult is the estimated 32 percent reduction in CEDIT dollars because of the city's 2006 Southwest Annexation, which took about 13 square miles and 25,000 residents from the county.

Thursday, Councilman Cal Miller asked what road projects would be eliminated or delayed should council appropriate money to the zoo. Highway Director Bill Hartman said conversion projects, reseal projects or drainage projects could all be affected.

Am I the only one that finds this to be a blatant conflict of interest? A sitting member of the zoo board is openly using his position as council President to lobby for zoo funding at the taxpayers' expense. Keep in mind that our zoo has never received taxpayer money. This is an outrage and frankly I find it quite shameful. I had this to say about the original story that broke in May:

This is a bad idea. The first thing every politician says about our zoo is that it is, and always has been, privately funded. This is a major fundraising point for the zoo as well. How many people will rethink donating money to the zoo if they realize their tax dollars are already going to support it? Even zoo director Jim Anderson admits as much.

Of course setting this precedent means the county (and city) will begin to subsidize the zoo more and more. The Council knows this is a concern so Moss is trying to convince us that won't happen

Nelson Peters had this to say about the council's plan:

“We did consider (the zoo allocation), but felt priorities were things we could not put off and want to include on the 2008 budget,” said Commissioner Nelson Peters.

Peters should be commended for rejecting Moss' idea.

Allen County Council President Wants to Use Economic Development Money for Zoo Exhibit

Today's JG reports that Allen County Council President Paul Moss wants to spend $500K of taxpayer money to help build a new exhibit at the Fort Wayne Children's Zoo:

The Allen County Council is considering using income tax dollars to help the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo pay for a new project.

Council President Paul Moss has asked that the county give $500,000 the county uses for economic development efforts to the African Journey project that is transforming the zoo’s 30-year-old African Veldt.

This is a bad idea. The first thing every politician says about our zoo is that it is, and always has been, privately funded. This is a major fundraising point for the zoo as well. How many people will rethink donating money to the zoo if they realize their tax dollars are already going to support it? Even zoo director Jim Anderson admits as much:

He acknowledged, however, that accepting public money could prompt some donors to consider no longer supporting the zoo.

Of course setting this precedent means the county (and city) will begin to subsidize the zoo more and more. The Council knows this is a concern so Moss is trying to convince us that won't happen:

Moss said the money would be a one-time expense aimed at the construction project and that the county would not begin to supplement the zoo’s operating budget.

Does anyone actually believe that?