Franklin County voters will be faced with Issue 6 on their May ballots. Issue 6 proposes a permanent 1.25 mil property tax levy, which amounts to a 110 percent property tax increase from the amount the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is currently receiving in Franklin County property taxes. If Issue 6 passes, the additional money would enable the Zoo to build a downtown satellite facility, expand the aquarium, build a new animal hospital and make other improvements. Franklin County voters have passed four zoo levies since the first in 1985. The last levy, in the November 2004 presidential election cycle, passed handily ­­ winning approval of its 10­year, 0.75 mill operations and construction levy by a vote of 312,998 – 154,205 (67 percent – 33 percent). In that levy campaign, the Zoo put a Eurasian eagle owl on display at High Street and 15th Avenue as part of the Zoo’s advocacy on behalf of the levy request. This year, the Zoo has trotted out a black footed penguin and cheetah cubs at Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. Tom Stalf, Zoo President and CEO, points to the zoo’s outreach programs and says the zoo is “leading, inspiring and connecting people to animals.” Stalf explains that City leaders came to the Columbus Zoo and asked it to help redevelop the Scioto Peninsula, which is why the $65,000,000 proposed downtown zoo is on the ballot. Stalf says there will be animals, places to play, restaurants and a banquet center. It would be open in the day for the public and open in the evening for corporate events. The pro-­levy web page says the levy is needed because “Franklin County has been supporting the Columbus Zoo with levy resources for almost 30 years and the current 10 ­year levy is set to expire soon” (www.supportourcolumbuszoo.com) The Columbus Zoo ranks highly in surveys of American zoos, which Stalf attributes to the support of Franklin County taxpayers. According to the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, about half of American zoos receive public support, the rest are privately funded. This year, Franklin County residents have organized in opposition to the zoo levy. Dan McCormick, chairman of Citizens for Responsible Taxation says “we are excited that the residents of Franklin County have the opportunity to vote on this issue. Taxing us for a third zoo is questionable in these economic times, especially with the commitments that we know are coming and the needs that are on the horizon. We believe this levy weighs the wants of the third zoo versus the needs of the community. McCormick notes that Franklin County Children’s Services and Columbus City Schools are expected to be on the ballot in November (76 percent of the FCCS revenue comes from property tax levy and 41 percent of CCS revenue comes from property taxes), and that COTA is expected to be on the ballot in 2016 to renew its quarter­percent sales tax operating levy (69 percent of COTA’s revenue comes from the sales tax levy). The Citizens for Responsible Taxation website lists four points of opposition: 1) the 105 percent tax increase (doubling current taxes), 2) the fact that current Zoo properties are located in Delaware and Muskingum Counties, but only Franklin County residents pay taxes to support the Zoo, 3) Columbus has the 5th highest tax burden in the nation among large cities, and 4) the zoo is not being efficient, as itsexpenses have risen 25 percent since 2009. A position paper with more information is at www.zootax.com Citizens will have the opportunity to vote on this issue, Issue 6, in May.