Northeast News
November 9, 2011

Jackson and Clay County voters chose to boost the Kansas City Zoo to a new level Tuesday, Nov. 8.

County voters approved the formation of a Zoological District and a 1/8th-cent sales tax to provide additional funding for the 102-year-old zoo.

The 1/8th-cent sales tax will become effective Jan. 1 and is expected to generate an additional $15 million per year in revenue for zoo operations.

Jackson County voters approved the tax 70 percent to 30 percent while Clay County voters approved the tax 50.94 percent to 49.06 percent.

The additional sales tax revenue will aid the zoo in constructing several new exhibits, including a “one-of-a-kind” penguin exhibit, predator canyon/tiger exhibit and a kids’ wet play zone. Renovations will be made to the zoo’s gorilla/ape exhibit, as well as the sea lion exhibit, among others. The construction projects are expected to employ 1,200 workers and create more than 100 new, permanent jobs.

Jackson and Clay County residents will benefit from the formation of a Zoological District in several ways. Residents of the two counties will receive half-price admission to the zoo and four free zoo days per year, as well as discounts for Friends of the Zoo (FOTZ) memberships.

The Kansas City Zoo will be able to offer fully sponsored science and educational field trips for local schools and dedicated “Zoomobiles” will provide educational programming to schools, libraries, community centers and other public places in Jackson and Clay counties.

Although city-owned, the zoo will continue to be operated by the FOTZ, a private 501(c)3 non-profit organization. All sales tax revenue will be kept in a Zoological District Tax Fund, which will be overseen and budgeted by an independent commission comprised of representatives from Jackson and Clay counties.