The levy, if passed, will be used to support a variety of well-being projects for animals as well as sustainability upgrades, education initiatives, wildlife conservation and species recovery. Specifically, the new bond would fund improvements to the zoo’s African area, as well as its penguin and sea otter habitats that are in the one of the zoo’s oldest areas.
As Association of Zoos and Aquariums president and CEO Dan Ashe explains:
“The Oregon Zoo doesn’t just keep pace. It’s a leader in helping set the pace for ever-rising standards, thanks in large part to your community’s ongoing support.”
Banner printing services are used by zoos to help direct visitors particularly to special or new exhibits.
Money from the measure would, according to officials, also make the zoo more user friendly by bolstering pathway accessibility, increase opportunities for visitor animal engagement and provide improved heat and extreme weather protection for animals, visitors and staff.
The new bond issue if passed will raise 8.5 cents for every $1,000 of assessed property value, which amounts to an average of $1.95 per month per homeowner on a $275,000 home. With previous bond issues fall off the tax bills, passage of the proposed zoo bond levy is not projected to raise the current tax rates of Portland residents.