By Jeremy Carroll
C & G Staff Writer

ROYAL OAK — State lawmakers have approved legislation that will allow counties to set up zoo authorities, which paves the way for the Detroit Zoological Society to begin the process of asking residents of metro Detroit to fund the zoo through a small tax levy.

Gov. Jennifer Granholm signed the bill into law on March 27, which means a zoo authority would be able to tax up to 0.10 mills for a period of 20 years, with the approval of voters of a county.

The millage would cost a taxpayer of a home valued at $200,000 approximately $10 annually.

“This legislation is crucial to protecting the long-term financial future of the Detroit Zoo and Belle Isle Nature Zoo, and continuing valuable programs that serve metro Detroit’s children and families,” Detroit Zoological Director Ron Kagan said in a statement.

The city of Detroit turned over management of the Detroit Zoo, located in Royal Oak, and the Belle Isle Nature Zoo, to the zoological society in 2006. The city also stopped paying an annual subsidy of $8 million annually for operations and $2 million to $3 million for capital maintenance.

Under the act, residents of an approval taxing authority would get discounted membership fees and admission fees to the zoo.

Zoo officials said they plan to ask Oakland, Macomb and Wayne counties to set up zoo authorities in hopes of placing the tax question on the ballot in the August primary.

“We look forward to continuing our work with the Wayne, Oakland and Macomb County commissioners to take this next step,” Kagan said.

The county commission boards must approve an authority, then that authority can go back and ask to have the millage question placed on a ballot. If residents of all three counties pass the millage, it is expected to raise approximately $12 million annually.         

The act went into effect immediately after Granholm signed it.

“The Detroit Zoo is a strong contributor to the economic vitality of southeast Michigan, and now county officials have a new tool to seek public support to keep the zoo moving forward,” she said in a statement. “As we work to grow our economy, we want to ensure that communities can invigorate those programs that contribute to the quality of life of their residents.”

The legislation received bi-partisan support in both the Senate and state House. Sen. Gilda Jacobs, D-Huntington Woods, and Sen. Nancy Cassis, R-Novi, first introduced it.

You can reach Staff Writer Jeremy Carroll at jcarroll@candgnews.com or at (586) 279-1110.