County Council Split Over Hogle Zoo Bond

None by Eric Ray

(KCPW News) The Salt Lake County Council is divided over a bond request from Hogle Zoo. The zoo wants a $65 million bond to fund the construction of new animal exhibits and other upgrades.

While some members of the council are in favor of putting the bond to a vote of the people, others believe taxpayers statewide should pay for the zoo. Councilman David Wilde is in favor of creating a district to help pay for zoo improvements that includes taxpayers outside of Salt Lake County.

Wilde calls Hogle Zoo a "quasi public agency" because of the amount of tax money they receive. He says the zoo's board needs representation from a wider cross section of the county before he will consider the bond.

Wilde also says a new location for the zoo should be considered in order to accommodate more visitors. The Salt Lake County Council has passed Hogle Zoo's bond request on to the County Debt Review Committee.

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