Wednesday, 4 February 2005 :: 12:12 pm

Detroit Zoo gets OK to remain Open

After weeks of debate, the Detroit Zoo is going to remain open. The Detroit City Council approved a deal that puts the Zoo into the hands of the Zoological Society. It will no longer be financed by the City of Detroit.

There was a huge concern that the Zoo might have to close. It was previously financed by the City of Detroit. As you know, the city is in debt and they are in the process of cutting the budget. The Zoo almost had to close. In a quick move, the City Council approved the new plan to put the Zoo in the hands of the Zoological Society.

Each year, the Detroit Zoo operates with $20 million of expenses on average. It is one of the most popular attractions for our region. About 1 million people visit the Zoo each and every year. A large portion of the visitors are from the city of Detroit itself.

The Zoo is in search of a $4 million state grant. They are working to get the money from Lansing. It is a part of a rescue plan to keep the doors of the Zoo open. Under this new plan, the zoo will be able to stay open for two years. After that time, there may be a tax millage in order to raise the funds it needs. This tax millage could apply to the tri-county area or the seven-county area. It would be an increase of $4.06 to $5.15 per year.

The City of Detroit is going to save $5 million from it's budget. That is how much the city kept aside for operating costs of the Detroit Zoo. Keep in mind that it is not located within the city limits of Detroit but in the suburb of Royal Oak.

Local TV stations have been showing the need. People have been visiting the Zoo and signing petitions to keep it open. They've also been generous enough to make a contribution to further secure the future of the Zoo.

Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick supported the new plan. He encouraged the City Council to vote "yes" on this proposal. He said it will help to move the city forward so it can deal with other issues. This year, the city of Detroit has $400 million less in it's general fund than it did a year ago. The members of the City Council voted 6-3 on this proprosal. Those who voted "no" include Barbara-Rose Collins, Brenda Jones and Watson.

As a side note, I would like to mention how this plan will affect the workers of the Detroit Zoo. They will no longer be employees of the city of Detroit but employees of the Zoological Society. This will mean similar pay but less benefits than what they currently have now.

City Council votes "no" on water rate hike

On the same day as the Zoo debate, the Detroit City Council voted no to increase the water rates in southeast Michigan. The proposed plan would raise water rates by 6% in Detroit. The money was going to be used for improvements and maintenance.

Residents in the suburbs don't want to pay more for water. However, they do want it repaired and improved for future generations. The Detroit Water Department serves 126 cities and townships in Southeast Michigan.

Detroit's water and sewage rates are amoung the lowest in the U.S. According to a recent survey, Detroit is the sixth lowest in the nation. Five members of the City Council voted "no" and four members voted "yes" on this prorposal.