San Francisco Zoo Facing Layoffs and Fewer Hours

SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS/SFGate)-- The San Francisco Zoo is facing budget cuts and layoffs in the face of a $436 million city budget deficit combined with $430,000 in canceled memberships and a loss of $1.2 million in donations following a fatal tiger attack in 2007.

The San Francisco Chronicle reports that in 2008 zoo attendance dropped by 20,831. During that year, the zoo also used bond funds to renovate the lion and tiger house.

KCBS’ Tim Ryan reports

To make up the difference, zoo officials are now considering layoffs and fewer hours, possibly closing at 3 p.m. rather than at 5 p.m., or closing altogether one day a month.

“Rather than pointing fingers, we’re just going to have to try and balance out to the best of our ability,” said San Francisco Supervisor Bevan Dufty.

In the long run, says Dufty, the zoo will survive.

“The reality is that there is going to have to be some curtailment and I get the sense that the moral has really improved among the employees and they’re making shared sacrifices in order to move forward.”

According to the San Francisco Chronicle, the zoo fell short of it’s projects 925,000 visitors this year, in part because its free first Wednesday of the month promotion was so popular. On a typical day, the zoo will see 8,000 visitors. At the height of the program, zoo officials reported 30,000 visitors.

The San Francisco Chronicle reports that if hour reductions don’t work, some of the 225 zoo workers could lose their jobs.

(cfu)