The City of Tampa is legal owner of the facility known as Lowry Park Zoo. The Lowry Park Zoological Society entered a lease and operating agreement with the City of Tampa in which the Zoological Society will operate and maintain the zoo to be used by the general public for charitable, entertainment and educational purposes.
Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo claims to receive 3%-4% of its annual operating budget from the local government.
This estimate of governmental contribution closely reflects the approximate $3000,000-$500,000 that Hillsborough County and the City of Tampa contribute to Lowry Park Zoo operations each year.
What Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo does not account for when publicly stating funds received from local government is the significant "CIT" or Community Investment Tax that the Zoo has and will continue to receive for years to come.
As Tax Payers we feel it is important to know where our precious money is being spent.
Spotlight
on Clueless Board at Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo: The Prosecutor's Office
Faulted the Zoo Board for Relying on Public Money and Tolerating a
"Lethal" Lack of Accountability: Editorial Published by the St.Petersburg Times Newspaper.
Baird Helgeson
continues to present a timely and accurate account of the manner in
which Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo and their Board of Director's conducts
business...with taxpayer dollars. Zoo Anonymous in Search of a New
Chief: Published in the Tampa Tribune Newspaper.
Plan
Tightens Nonprofit Rules: The Scandal Involving Former Lowry Park Zoo
President Lex Salisbury Prompts Tampa's Mayor Pam Iorio to Tighten the
Reins on Taxpayer Money: Published in the Tampa Tribune Newspaper.
Former Lowry Park Zoo CEO Lex Salisbury Is Seeking Federal Public Tax Dollars to Guarantee a $2.4 Million Dollar Loan Through a United State Department of Agriculture Loan Program: News Channel 8 Video Report.
City of Tampa Spends $45,000 of Taxpayer Money to Settle Lawsuit Filed Against Lowry Park Zoo:
On or about September, 2006, the Plaintiff, Travis Smith and his brother, Donald Smith, visited Lowry Park Zoo, which is leased from the City of Tampa by the Lowry Park Zoological Society, Inc., and on said date, the Plaintiffs were subjected to discrimination by the Lowry Park Zoo because the grounds and facilities were inaccessible and did not meet the requirements of the American With Disabilities Act (ADA) for persons with disabilities.
"Resolution authorizing compromise settlement in the amount
of forty-five thousand dollars ($45,000) of that certain lawsuit
filed in the United Stated District Court, Middle District of
Florida, Tampa Division, entitled Eleanor Smith, Guardian, on
behalf of Trevor Smith, an individual and, Donald Smith, an
individual, v. Lowry Park Zoological Society of Tampa Inc., a
Florida not for profit corporation and City of Tampa, a
political subdivision of the State of Florida. Case No.: 8:07-cv-333-T-27TBM"
Full record of settlement as presented by the City of Tampa: Read
Zoo Seeks $200,000 from Lex Salisbury; Tampa City Audit Results Submitted to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement: Published in the Tampa Tribune Newspaper.
Lowry Park Zoo Seeks Return of $200,000+ from Former CEO Lex Salisbury: Published in the St.Petersburg Times Newspaper.
Through an interlocal agreement, Hillsborough County and the City of Tampa have contributed $7,583,000 for capital improvements to the Lowry Park Zoo between 2004 and 2008.
During the October 15th, 2008 Hillsborough Board of County Commissioners general meeting officials discussed the following topics:
- Hillsborough County's "subsidy" of Lowry Park Zoo ticket prices through a contract in which the County pays the zoo approximately $1.04 per attendee.
-Hillsborough County's contribution of approximately $7.5 million dollars for "capital improvement" funds for the zoo via the City of Tampa.
-The possibility of Hillsborough County auditing the City of Tampa to ensure the proper handling of funds contributed to the zoo via this municipal agreement.
-The fact that there is a lack of "accountability" and "transparency" with regard to the funds that the County contributes to local non-profit organizations.
Complete text of the October 15th, 2008 Board of County Commissioners meeting: Read
What Taxpayers $7,583,000 was spent on:
March 2004 $2,000,000
Interlocal agreement scope of services included capital improvements to five phases of the Safari Africa Exhibit as follows;
Elephant Exhibit Yard, Elephant Swimming Water Feature, Guest Ramps in and out of Tunnel, Partial Site Utilities, and Giraffe Feeding.
November 2004 $1,760,000
Interlocal agreement scope of services included capital improvements to five phases of the Safari Africa Exhibit as follows:
African Arrival Plaza, Guest Restrooms, Meerkat Exhibit, Hyrax Exhibit, and White Rhino Night House and Exhibit.
July 2006 $2,000,000
Interlocal agreement scope of services included capital improvements to the Zoo's Administrative Buildings, Front Gate, and expansions of the Africa, Florida Boardwalk, and Asia Exhibits.
May 2008 $1,823,000
Interlocal agreement scope of services included construction activities for an African Lodge, and related new animal exhibits for "Safari Africa", and the Log Flume Ride and related new animal exhibits in "Florida Boardwalk".
In addition to the above mentioned tax-payer commitment to the operation of Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo it should be noted that Hillsborough County Government continues to contribute and additional half a million dollars a year to our community's zoo: Published by Hillsborough County Government
On March 16th of 2006 the Hillsborough County Commission
debated the merits of advancing Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo
$2 Million dollars two years ahead of planned budget.
Concerns discussed include:
- "WE HAVE A MULTIPART ITEM TODAY TO COME BACK TO YOU ON THE ZOO FUNDING.
ONE WOULD BE TO ACCELERATE 2 MILLION OF THE $4 MILLION THE BOARD HAS IDENTIFIED AS AVAILABLE FOR THE LOWRY PARK ZOO, AND WE'D MOVE IT FROM 2008 TO THE CURRENT YEAR.
WE'D BORROW FUNDS TO MAKE THAT WORK."
- "IT WILL COST US, WE ESTIMATE, $176,658 TO BORROW THE MONEY TWO YEARS EARLIER TO MAKE IT AVAILABLE TO THE ZOO."
- "AT ONE POINT WE WERE PURCHASING, I BELIEVE, GIRAFFES AND A PYGMY HIPPO, AND AT THIS POINT WE'VE MOVED IT AROUND SO WE'RE NOT BUYING ANIMALS, WE'RE IMPROVING THE EXHIBITS."
-
"WE SHOULDN'T BE BUILDING ANYTHING WE'RE NOT GOING TO MAINTAIN, AND IF WE'RE GOING TO GIVE MONEY FOR AN ASSET TO AN ORGANIZATION, WE SHOULD HAVE SOME CONFIDENCE THAT THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO MAINTAIN THOSE ASSETS OVER TIME."
-
"NOBODY HAS DEFINED WHAT CONSTITUTES A BUSINESS PLAN, SO PART OF IT WILL BE WE'LL LAY OUT THAT STRUCTURE, AND THEN IT'LL BE CLEAR THAT WHEN YOU GET A PROPOSAL THAT THEY'VE THOUGHT IT THROUGH, THEY KNOW HOW TO MAINTAIN WHAT THEY BUILD, AND ONE OF THE ISSUES HERE IS THAT THE ZOO IS COMING TO US BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T NECESSARILY SPENT ENOUGH MONEY MAINTAINING THEIR EXISTING EXHIBITS, AND THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE ATTEMPTING TO DO THROUGH THIS COMMITMENT FROM THE BOARD."
Click "Here" to read the full transcripts from this Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners meeting.
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