Zoo officials say vote shows strong Metro support
Royal Oak — The Detroit Zoo's director thanked voters Tuesday night for what appeared to be approval of a 0.1-mill tax renewal to support operations.
"We are very appreciative to the public which continues to vote — not only with their feet by visiting the zoo but also with their ballots," Ron Kagan said late Tuesday as the majority of results from Wayne County were still being counted.
Roughly 73 percent of voters in both Oakland and Wayne counties backed the renewal of 0.1 mill over the next 10 years. In Macomb County, roughly 58 percent of voters backed the measure as well.
A breakdown of the unofficial results showed:
* Voters in Wayne County backed the measure by a total of 124,469 votes to 52,439.
* Oakland County voters supported the millage by a count of 128,018 to 43,976.
* In Macomb County, 63,718 voted for the millage with 44,578 opposed.
"Oakland and Macomb numbers are near what they were eight years ago and Wayne's numbers at this point are also in line," Kagan said. "We are quite confident that it all reflects our long relationship with the public remains strong and we will continue to do long term things to advance animal life and nature programs at the zoo.
"All of this could not be possible without the hard work of all the employees and our many volunteers."
Approval from all three counties was required needed to pass the measure, which would account for about a third of the Detroit Zoo’s $35 million annual budget.
A similar vote in 2008 was approved by 74.9 percent of voters in the three counties. As a renewal, approval will not increase property taxes and an owner of a home worth $200,000, with a state equalized valuation of $100,00, will continue to pay same $10 a year.
Voters interviewed outside precincts Tuesday said the decision was an easy one.
“I love the zoo,” said Edie Woodham after voting at the Independence Township Library on Clarkston Road. “We need to keep it operating for everyone to enjoy.”
In Waterford Township, Dean and Diane Armstrong voted at Pierce Middle School off Hatchery and both supported the renewal.
Len and Theresa Buero, two other Waterford voters, said “of course we supported the zoo renewal.”
“We don’t go there (zoo) much but it is a good facility and want to keep it that way,” Theresa Buero said.
In Wayne County, Laurel Lasser, 30, of Westland said she and her family are zoo members and supporting the tax renewal was an obvious choice.
“We value going to the zoo and we don’t mind paying a little bit extra so that the kids can enjoy that,” said Lasser, a social worker who voted Tuesday at Cooper School on Ann Arbor Trail. “It’s not a lot so it’s not that big of a deal.”
Kelly Porter, a city of Wayne resident and mother of two, said renewal of the zoo tax is nominal and not much to ask.
“It’s only $10 since it’s a tri-county (tax),” said Porter, 51, who works as a paraprofessional for the Wayne-Westland Community School District.
Detroit Zoo spokesperson Patricia Mills Janeway said the zoo’s “economic impact to our region is more than $100 million each year.”
The 0.1 mill generates about $5 million from Oakland County, $4 million from Macomb and $2.4 million from Wayne. Residents from the counties receive special benefits, including a $10 discount on memberships.
One-third of the zoo’s annual expenses come from admission and concession revenues and about one-third from memberships, donations and grants.
Zoo officials felt the August vote would help them plan next year’s budget and also not get lost in the national presidential election.
Janeway said a 2015 survey of voters reveals people “feel passionate about the Detroit Zoo and its importance to the community in terms of value, uniqueness, childhood development and a sanctuary in which people can experience nature. ... They consider the zoo one of the premier attractions in the Detroit metro area and they recognize the impact it has on children and families.”
About 1.5 million people visit the 125-acre zoo each year and the number is expected to grow with the recent opening of the $30 million Polk Penguin Conservation Center, believed the largest of its kind in the world.
mmartindale@detroitnews.com
(248) 338-0319
Staff writers Christine Ferretti, Nicqull Terry, Charles E. Ramirez and Jim Lynch contributed
How counties are voting
Unofficial results
Wayne
Yes: 70.3%
No: 29.7%
985 of 999 precincts reporting
Oakland
Yes: 74.4%
No: 25.6%
520 of 520 precincts reporting
Macomb
Yes: 58.8%
No: 41.2%
337 of 337 precincts reporting
Source: County elections offices