On Target

The NC Zoo is on target to meet its $6 million revenue goal for the fiscal year which ends in about two months, thanks to recent attendance records. The State Zoo has been required, however, to cut total expenses by $950,000 (eight percent of its approx. $12 million in annual state appropriations) due to "the economy".

In addition to the $12M and $6M, the NC Zoo Society has provided an average of $5M more to the Zoo each of the last three calendar years. (That buys animals, plants, exhibits and much more, and includes a purchase of over 270 acres of land and construction of a new Valerie H. Schindler Wildlife Learning Center in 2008, both at Zoo request.)