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Posted on 3/26/18 at 2:20 pm to MSMHater
quote:
A good example is Bayou Wildlife Park, under Texas. I've brought my kids there several times. Very few animal enclosures. No miles of concrete walking paths. But tons of animals, tons of direct interaction with the animals, a safari type tram tours the park, exotics from 19 countries, you can feed many of the animals by hand. It's just as enjoyable an experience as what you consider to be a "zoo". But the AZA would never accredit it b/c it doesn't follow their zoo template.
I thoroughly enjoy Global Wildlife on the northshore. It's not an accredited zoo either. But it, like the wildlife park, follows a different model.
The model the BR zoo follows is a traditional city zoo model. Not a ranch or a park, etc. The vast majority of the facilities they "compete" with (for lack of a better term) are all accredited.
I mean, the one in Alexandria is accredited.
Posted on 3/26/18 at 2:21 pm to LSUFanHouston
quote:
If it is something not terribly complex, they will usually defer the decision for 12 months or so. For them to straight up reject it, it must be significant with no easy path forward.
Or perhaps for political reason BREC told them to flunk 'em now???
Posted on 3/26/18 at 2:22 pm to LSUFanHouston
I don't see how this is a surprise or a "gotcha". Everyone knows they let this zoo go to shite.
Posted on 3/26/18 at 2:24 pm to Lickitty Split
quote:
The fact that they have $50 million in reserves means that the next time a tax renewal comes up, it should be voted down.
Is that for all of BREC or just for the zoo?
What is their level of expenses? Most government auditors reccomend 2-3 months of expenses to be kept in reserves just for daily operations. If they are paying down bond debt or saving money for a large expenditure, that amount should be higher.
Posted on 3/26/18 at 2:30 pm to doubleb
quote:
Or perhaps for political reason BREC told them to flunk 'em now???
I would be stunned if a national non-profit accredidation foundation gives two craps about Baton Rouge politics.
I think the reality is, they earned their flunking grade. Whether that was due to a crime of commission or one of omission is a valid discussion.
I believe it is very likely that the zoo has held back on certain projects in anticipation of a move. Remember... last year, further research on the move was green-lighted. I am sure they felt it would be a waste to invest significant sums now, if they are going to have to abandon them in a few years when they move.
I imagine that the accreditation agency probably was willing to give them a "defer" decision if a move was imminent. Since that is no longer the case, the reasons for not spending money on the zoo are no longer legit.
It was a gamble for the zoo. They lost.
Posted on 3/26/18 at 2:33 pm to LSUFanHouston
So if this came out before the recent vote would the result have been different.
Posted on 3/26/18 at 2:35 pm to LSUFanHouston
quote:
The model the BR zoo follows is a traditional city zoo model. Not a ranch or a park, etc. The vast majority of the facilities they "compete" with (for lack of a better term) are all accredited.
You're right, and I acknowledged as much when a previous poster pointed it out. Those are great places without accreditation b/c that is their chosen business model, and it works.
The BR zoo strives to be accredited, and failed. They didn't pursue a different model. That's a significant difference.
quote:
I mean, the one in Alexandria is accredited.
Believe it or not, I enjoyed that zoo,last visit, more than Baton Rouge. It's smaller, but you are really close to all the animals. Got some really good pics, and the kids enjoyed it.
Posted on 3/26/18 at 2:36 pm to djangochained
This whole thing is beyond a waste of time and is a terrific example of the espousement of meaningless bullshite couched as "legitimate arguments." The residents of NBR no more give a shite about the zoo than flying to the moon. They argue that moving the zoo would "hurt their goals economic development in the area." It's been there for 47 years in an area that has continually wasted away. The non-PC bottom-line truthful argument is that they didn't want white people to get something that is in the "black part of town." The fact that the residents of NBR don't actually give a shite about the zoo is immaterial. The end game is "frick whitey"!
BREC doesn't need to move the zoo. I've taken my kids to the zoo several times and have found it to be just fine. My kids are happy to see the animals and they have a good time. That's all that really matters. But BREC needs something on which to spend their significant amount of tax dollars. A surplus in the budget is not ideal because votes might wake up a realize maybe BREC doesn't need all taxpayer dollars they desperately beg for every so many years.
It's really just a sad, stupid, waste of time with no REAL regard for the well being of the animals and the people who take care of them.
BREC doesn't need to move the zoo. I've taken my kids to the zoo several times and have found it to be just fine. My kids are happy to see the animals and they have a good time. That's all that really matters. But BREC needs something on which to spend their significant amount of tax dollars. A surplus in the budget is not ideal because votes might wake up a realize maybe BREC doesn't need all taxpayer dollars they desperately beg for every so many years.
It's really just a sad, stupid, waste of time with no REAL regard for the well being of the animals and the people who take care of them.
Posted on 3/26/18 at 2:39 pm to LSUDAN1
quote:
So if this came out before the recent vote would the result have been different.
Probably not, because the vote was based on pure emotion, and not on any rational business sense.
Which is why I believe the zoo will close before it moves.
Posted on 3/26/18 at 2:43 pm to LSUFanHouston
LINK
From the latest audit report (year ended 12/31/16)
Revenues approx. 72M
Expenses approx. 69M
surplus of approx. 3 million.
BTW they ran surpluses in the two prior years totaling 28M dollars.
They have another fund for obligations:
[quote]The Commission's other governmental funds consisting of the Debt Service Fund, the Capital Improvements Fund, the
Enhancement Construction Fund and the Special Revenue Enhancement Fund collectively contain $31,981,426 of fimd
balance which is either restricted, committed or assigned for various purposes including debt payments and capital
improvements, or assigned for certain uses as determined by managementThe Commission also maintains an
Enhancement Operating Fund that accounts for the portion of a certain millage that is earmarked for operating
supplements that is combined with the General Fund for presentation in accordance with GASB end of quote
From the latest audit report (year ended 12/31/16)
Revenues approx. 72M
Expenses approx. 69M
surplus of approx. 3 million.
BTW they ran surpluses in the two prior years totaling 28M dollars.
quote:
The general fund is the primary operating fund of the Commission. At the end of the current fiscal year, unassigned
fund balance of the general fund was $20,776,081, while total fimd balance of the general fund was $58,598,648.
Compared with total general fund balance of $55,933,480 at the end of 2015, fund balance increased $2,665,168
during 2016. The fimd balance increase is a result of revenues exceeding expenditures for the ye^. This fund balance
can be used to support general operations.
They have another fund for obligations:
[quote]The Commission's other governmental funds consisting of the Debt Service Fund, the Capital Improvements Fund, the
Enhancement Construction Fund and the Special Revenue Enhancement Fund collectively contain $31,981,426 of fimd
balance which is either restricted, committed or assigned for various purposes including debt payments and capital
improvements, or assigned for certain uses as determined by managementThe Commission also maintains an
Enhancement Operating Fund that accounts for the portion of a certain millage that is earmarked for operating
supplements that is combined with the General Fund for presentation in accordance with GASB end of quote
Posted on 3/26/18 at 2:47 pm to GeauxDoc
quote:
Which of your fibers don't hate BREC?
I allow a few of them not to hate brec.
This post was edited on 3/26/18 at 2:47 pm
Posted on 3/26/18 at 2:51 pm to doubleb
They would have plenty more in surplus if they shut down some of their crappy golf courses.
Posted on 3/26/18 at 2:52 pm to LSUFanHouston
quote:
I would be stunned if a national non-profit accredidation foundation gives two craps about Baton Rouge politics.
I probably should have said BREC elected to make the news public now rather than before the vote.
quote:
I believe it is very likely that the zoo has held back on certain projects in anticipation of a move. Remember... last year, further research on the move was green-lighted. I am sure they felt it would be a waste to invest significant sums now, if they are going to have to abandon them in a few years when they move.
The question is for how long have they "neglected" the zoo, failed to improve it, failed to keep it up with the times?
quote:
I imagine that the accreditation agency probably was willing to give them a "defer" decision if a move was imminent
The director said it would take 5 years to build a new zoo. You said the accreditation agency was not playing politics, so why would they "defer" anything? The zoo either meets standards or it doesn't.
quote:
It was a gamble for the zoo. They lost.
It was a gamble by the BREC director who felt she had total control of the situation when she was really out of touch.
Posted on 3/26/18 at 2:53 pm to rmc
can we all address the main issue? the zoo doesnt have the 4 main animals! Elephants, lions, bears, crocodiles! its very boring. the other zoos have many more exhibits.
Posted on 3/26/18 at 2:55 pm to Boo Krewe
quote:
can we all address the main issue? the zoo doesnt have the 4 main animals! Elephants, lions, bears, crocodiles! its very boring. the other zoos have many more exhibits.
The Zoo as it currently sits is a sad sad place. I agree.
Posted on 3/26/18 at 2:59 pm to djangochained
The residents of NBR don't even go to the fricking zoo. They were just being petty assholes about the zoo moving. Everything to them is about fricking race. They won, the shitty zoo stays in NBR. What happens now? Shut the fricking thing down. frick em.
Posted on 3/26/18 at 2:59 pm to djangochained
quote:
lose accreditation
This is huge (bad) news for the zoo.
I dont know for sure but I imagine they might lose some animals because of this
Posted on 3/26/18 at 3:00 pm to Boo Krewe
quote:
can we all address the main issue? the zoo doesnt have the 4 main animals! Elephants, lions, bears, crocodiles! its very boring. the other zoos have many more exhibits.
They had to transfer the elephant because the other one died.
They have Sun Bears
They have alligators
Posted on 3/26/18 at 3:02 pm to Deactived
they need to get star animals. Elephants, lions, crocs, and some damn bears. hell even wolves, and sea lions! audubon has some. br zoo doesnt have big primates either. get a komodo dragon too
This post was edited on 3/26/18 at 3:02 pm
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