Minnesota Zoo officials making the rounds at Capitol
By T.W. Budig
ECM Capitol reporter
Minnesota Zoo Director Lee Ehmke warned of the potential for the zoo entering a tailspin should state funding cuts hit double-digits.
“And (it could) produce a spiral effect that it will be pretty hard to get out of,” said Ehmke to a House committee today (Wednesday, March 9)
Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton is proposing to cut funding to the zoo board by about $600,000 over the next two years — a five percent reduction to the zoo’s general fund.
Government funding to the zoo has sharply decreased over the last 10 years, Ehmke explained.
Currently, it hovers around 29 percent, he said.
This is low compared to 220 other zoos and aquariums across the county. Nationally, on average, government funding for these institutions is around 40 percent, he said.
Zoo officials understand the state faces big budget challenges.
Warning: layoffs, attractions closing
Still, Ehmke warned double-digit funding cuts would result in lay-offs, attractions at the zoo closing.
One Northern Minnesota lawmaker, Rep. David Dill, DFL-Crane Lake, asked Ehmke about the status of the zoo’s online services.
His interest in the zoo’s online profile, Dill explained, stems from discussions with his wife, a teacher, who was teaching a unit on dolphins.
“We don’t have them (dolphins) in Crane Lake — maybe we should,” Dill quipped.
Ehmke explained the zoo had online services, but questioned whether it was worthwhile to have more online service staff because of the difficulty of earning money online.
The zoo currently has a staff of about 231 full-time employees — employment numbers fluctuate with the season — backed by some 800 volunteers.
Volunteer efforts equate to $2 million
Volunteers donate one day a week to the zoo. They’re essential, Ehmke said. They’re the “front line” of the zoo in terms contacts with visitors. The monetary value of the efforts of volunteers amounts to nearly $2 million a year, the zoo estimates.
Ehmke had a second appearance at the Capitol before the House legacy committee this afternoon.
Rep. Kurt Bills, R-Rosemount, is carrying legislation that would slate some $4 million in legacy funding to the zoo over the next two years.
Bills termed the zoo as an “intermediary” between Minnesotans and the environment, wildlife, and agriculture.
House legacy funding committee Chairman Dean Urdahl, R-Grove City, said the zoo will get some funding in the House legacy bill, but not the total amount that they want.
The Minnesota Zoo receives more than 1.3 million visitors annually — more than 90,000 school children visit every year.
The zoo contains some 2,300 animals, 75 endangered or threatened species.
