You Can Help the Zoo this November
Friday, August 22nd, 2008 | General
Vote Yes on Measure 26-29
THE OREGON ZOO NEEDS YOUR HELP.
The Need: The Oregon Zoo is the oldest zoo west of the Mississippi; during its 50-year history at the current location, key parts of the zoo have become old, out-of-date and worn-out.
The Measure: The zoo bond measure will update and replace old exhibits and facilities, increase access to conservation education, and replace utility systems to reduce water and energy use and lower operating costs.
Ballot Question:
Shall the zoo protect animal health and safety; conserve, recycle water; issue $125 million in general obligation bonds; require independent audits?
The measure will:
- Provide more humane care for elephants, primates, polar bears and hippos by updating four outdated and undersized enclosures with larger, more natural and safer spaces
- Protect animal health and safety by modernizing the zoo’s substandard 45-year-old veterinary clinic
- Increase access to conservation education by providing more space for summer camps, classes and hands-on learning
- Improve water quality by replacing the 1950s-era sewer system, while reducing pollution by separating sewage from storm water and harvesting rain runoff for reuse
- Conserve and reuse water by installing recycling-filtration systems, while replacing leaky, worn-out plumbing and irrigation systems. These changes will save 11 million gallons of water annually.
A citizens’ oversight committee will monitor spending. The projects will be subject to internal audits as well as an annual independent financial audit, which will be published in the local newspaper.
Cost to Homeowners
About $1.40 a month, or $16.80 a year, for the average homeowner in the region. The cost estimate is less than 9 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value per year for the $125 million general obligation bond. Bonds mature in 21 years or less.
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