Something to roar about: zoo funding partially restored

The following is a notice from the office of Republican state Sen. Richard R. Tisei.

Stoneham’s legislative delegation came to the rescue of Stone Zoo this week, restoring more than half of the $4 million Governor Patrick had vetoed from Zoo New England’s operating budget and ensuring that the zoo will remain open to the public.

A supplemental budget approved by the House and Senate on July 29 returned $2.5 million to Zoo New England to help pay for the maintenance and operation of both the Stone Zoo and the Franklin Park Zoo in Dorchester, which together drew a record 568,797 visitors last year. This puts the zoos’ total budget for Fiscal Year 2010 at $5 million, or $1.5 million short of the Legislature’s original appropriation of $6.5 million.

“I’m pleased that, for now, we’ve found a way to keep the zoos open and operating, but we’re not out of the woods yet,” said Senate Minority Leader Richard R. Tisei. “I’m concerned at the attempts being made to close Stone Zoo by people who don’t understand that Stone is very close to being self-sufficient and has such a promising future ahead of it.”

“I’m very pleased that we were able to rally support in the Legislature to restore most of this critical funding for the Stone and Franklin Park Zoos,” said Representative Jason Lewis. “The Stone Zoo is a wonderful place to visit close to home, and it brings substantial economic, educational and recreational benefits to Stoneham and surrounding communities.”

“The Stone Zoo is an important educational, cultural and economic asset for the residents of Stoneham and its surrounding communities,” added Representative James Dwyer. “Many families, including mine, have visited the Stone Zoo and this funding restoration is a great step in the right direction to make sure that many more families will have that opportunity.”

When Governor Patrick announced his vetoes on June 29, zoo officials warned that they would likely have to close one or both zoos, since 60 percent of the zoos’ operating budget comes from the state. From the moment the governor’s vetoes were announced, Tisei, Lewis and Dwyer took action to draw attention to the zoos’ plight, including holding a press conference at the Stone Zoo and rallying legislative support for the zoos.

Zoo officials estimate that it would cost the state more to close the zoos than to keep them open, due to the lengthy process of relocating the 1,559 animals housed at the two facilities and the fixed costs of providing food and veterinary care for the animals. The costs associated with closing the zoos were estimated at $9 million in the first year alone, $6.3 million in the second year and $3 million in the third year.

Stone Zoo was actually closed to the public for a couple of years in the early 1990s, due to state budget cuts. At the time, 100 percent of its operating budget came from the state. Prior to the zoo’s re-opening, Tisei sponsored legislation creating Zoo New England, which was placed in charge of the zoos’ day-to-day operations and began building a private fundraising base to help maintain both zoos.

Although the supplemental budget provides only a partial funding restoration, it will enable the zoos to continue to operate while working towards their long-range goal of minimizing their dependency on state funding support.

“The goal has always been for the zoos to become self-sufficient,” said Tisei. “Zoo New England has been steadily working towards that goal, but now is the time for the community to rally its support behind the zoos and help accelerate their private fundraising schedule.”

“The outpouring of support for the Stone Zoo has been very moving. On a personal note, I’m looking forward to celebrating my daughter’s seventh birthday party at the zoo in September,” said Lewis.

The supplemental budget is now on the Governor’s desk awaiting his signature.