Mayor Tom Leppert has an idea for reducing the budget gap in Dallas -- give control of the taxpayer-supported Dallas Zoo to the private Dallas Zoological Society.
The move could shave several million dollars off of the $12.3 million in proposed budget costs to Dallas next year -- specifically the costs of paying for management and operating costs.
Under the proposed transfer, the city of Dallas would keep the land and physical exhibits of the zoo, but the management, operations, and zoo animals would be controlled by the Dallas Zoological Society.
Leppert told the Dallas Morning News the goal of the transition is to ease irregularities in the budget -- such as when new animals are added to the zoo -- but Dallas Zoological Society President Michael Meadows said he thinks the move would also help bring private donations to the zoo.
"There is a perception when something is run by a public entity, that they don't have a need for private donations. We've found that donors prefer to give to privately funded institutions," Meadows said.
Even if the switch is approved by the City Council, Leppert said the zoo will never be completely off the city's books.
"What we're trying to look at is what is this asset and what's the best way to manage it," Leppert told the DMN.
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The Dallas City Council is expected to discuss the plan by mid-August.
