Limestone County En Route to a New Zoo
The North Alabama Zoological Society (NALZS) has proposed a 3% electric tax on the residents of Limestone County to fund the initial phase of a new zoo.
A Struggle for Public Funding
Executive Director of NALZS, Ethan Woodruff, notes the organization’s inability to accumulate the necessary funds for the zoo’s construction. The initial phase requires a whopping $65 million, a sum that has yet to be raised through donations and grants. The Zoological Society has attempted to gather enough donations but found they fall short of the required sum.
The society, a nonprofit organization established in 2020, has been planning to construct a zoo near Buc-ee’s located between Decatur and Athens, and along Interstate 65. They aspire to house animals no different from those found in the Birmingham and Nashville zoos.
Upcoming Plans for the Zoo
The proposed zoo is slated to cover a wide expanse of 250 to 300 acres, with an estimated total cost of $1 million per acre across five phases. The focal point of the proposed 3% tax would be to generate enough funds for the first phase, which according to Woodruff will be the most expensive.
The prospective initial phase entails building a robust infrastructure that would set the skeletal framework for further developments. Additionally, the $65 million tax fund would include the purchase of the proposed site, construction of the initial phase of the zoo, and factors related to starting operating cost and procuring the animals.
Hesitation and Opposition
The proposal has met with a fair amount of resistance, especially from District 2 Commissioner Danny Barksdale, who stands against government involvement in the initiative. District 3 Commissioner, Derrick Gatlin, echoing his sentiments, believes that the current socio-economic circumstances are unsuitable for further taxation.
Even Limestone residents like Mike Shelton, 72, from Athens, voiced opposition against the proposed tax on the grounds of existing financial struggles.
Prospects and Benefits for the County
Woodruff argues that their tax proposal could better the county’s fortunes by livening up the local economy. The revenue generated from the zoo’s operation could have an estimated impact of $117 million over the first six years and eventually create around 650 new jobs in the community. With public funding, Woodruff believes it could uplift the county, giving back in terms of boosted infrastructure and various improvements to local amenities and traffic routes.
He then provides a compelling case for the tax levy, putting the onus back on public financial contribution for community improvements. He adds, “If we stay status quo, they’re not going to get better.”
