Columbia, SC (WLTX) -- Every year, 1.3 million people visit Riverbanks Zoo & Garden. Funding from area counties helps keep the attraction in tip-top shape.
But a portion of that funding could be taking a hit, which would force the zoo to end certain free admissions and possibly cut jobs.
Lexington County provides 7% of funding for Riverbanks Zoo, which amounts to $5.96 in property taxes per household.
Richland County helps, too, funding 12%.
But with the growth in Lexington, county council is looking to reallocate a big chunk of the zoo's budget to instead fund road improvements and help other departments in the county.
"We're just concerned that this cut will reduce a lot of the way we operate right now," said Tommy Stringfellow, CEO of Riverbanks Zoo & Garden.
Tuesday at Lexington County's Budget Workshop Session, Stringfellow took the floor to ask the county council to reconsider their proposed budget.
Every year, the zoo is given roughly $1.3 million from Lexington County to help with operations.
This year may be different. Instead of the $1.3 million, Lexington County is planning to give $500,000 to Riverbanks Zoo. That amounts to a 60% cut in funding.
"$850,000 for any business is a deep cut," said Stringfellow.
Stringfellow says right now, taxpayers in Lexington County are paying just under $6 per household to fund the zoo. That investment helps fund free programs for teachers and students in Lexington County.
If they take a cut, he says, it would create a domino effect. Zoo officials were warned of possible budget cuts, but they say they never knew it would be this extensive.
"The cuts they're proposing won't allow us to sustain some of the programs we give back to the community, such as the free schools and the teachers and the students," said Stringfellow. "We do free days for Lexington County residents because of the support they've been giving us."
Even jobs could be impacted. Should the zoo lose funding, Stringfellow says they would have to re-evaluate their labor force.
"Right now we can't sustain the workforce we have at that cut, at over 60%," he said.
As a proposed solution to the issue, some pitched the idea to increase zoo ticket prices by $1. Stringfellow says he wishes it were that simple.
"As we move forward, we know a $1 increase doesn't produce but about $200,000 in additional revenue. An increase would be more like $6 to $8. When you do that, it impacts the attendance," he said. "Raising it a dollar, if it was that easy, we would have done it a long time ago."
In a statement from Harrison Cahill, the Public Information Officer for Lexington County, he said:
"At this time, County Council is undergoing process in developing a balanced budget for the upcoming fiscal year. The budget has not yet been finalized and is still a very fluid process. Until the budget undergoes a public hearing, which is scheduled to occur on May 28th, as well as second and third-and-final readings, it is not finalized.
County Council began discussions with the Riverbanks Zoo & Garden in 2018 that future funding would be subject to change. County Council is faced with the growing demand for high-quality services to the residents of our county, especially as the County continues grow at a rapid pace, which means they must focus on funding the core services of County government."
Now, zoo officials hoping to reach a compromise with county council. To help sustain their operations, Stringfellow is asking for $980,000 from Lexington County instead of the $1.3 million.
The whole budget process will take another 2 to 3 weeks.
You have the opportunity to let the county know your thoughts about this proposal in a public hearing May 28th at 6 p.m. at the Lexington County Administration Building.