By: Diane Benjamin
Yesterday news reports stated the zoo increased the number of visitors from last year and revenues were up around $21,000. Good for them!
One reason given was the new flamingo exhibit. Left out of all the good news stories is how much it cost to increase revenue and attendance.
Just construction – not the birds – cost $232,760: https://blnnews.com/2015/08/07/buying-flamingos-land-and-filling-their-bellies/
This chart shows the total cost and how much the city paid: Page 74: http://www.cityblm.org/Home/ShowDocument?id=8970
The City invested $135,890 and got $21,000.
That’s not all!
How much is in the budget for the zoo?
Page 213: http://www.cityblm.org/home/showdocument?id=12224
Expenses are projected at $1,347,216 with Income of $770,650.
That means taxpayers get to pay $576,566.
The Miller Park Zoo is very cool, but taxpayers deserve to know all the facts. Soon another exhibit will need to be built to keep people coming back.
The City will steal more of your money to pay for it. Morality and this government’s policies don’t go together.
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You can’t see the birds when it’s cold out. Lame.
Yeah but “quality of life” is enhanced by flamingos, and highly paid consultants say “quality of life” draws millennials. Or something.
(sarcasm)
Now, now…you can’t forget the economic impact of all of those visitors eating at restaurants, buying gas and trinkets, and staying in hotels after going downtown to the Rt. 66 visitors’ center. I mean really, all of those out of town people who come to Bloomington from all over the world generating tax revenue can not be ignored. Ask the Convention and Visitors Bureau.
$21,000. Wow. Exciting!
No. The economic impact would be considered over and above the $21,000 revenue generated from attendance at the zoo. Just think of the distorted formula used by Hales to claim the Coliseum has a positive financial impact on the community. You have to know I was being snarky.
I prefer to use facts. $21,000 is all they can prove – and yes I recognize snarky.