Milwaukee County Zoo leaders told the County Finance Committee they expect to open a new rhino habitat in December and asked the committee to fund ongoing capital projects including a front‑entrance admissions reconfiguration and roof and HVAC replacement at the Zufari building.

Zoo Executive Director Amos Morris and Deputy Director Bureau Westfall presented the zoo’s operating and capital plan and highlighted recent successes (animal births, accreditation awards and program expansions) and challenges (attendance pressure, construction impacts and deferred maintenance). The zoo’s recommended 2026 operating budget showed an expenditure authority of $22,664,000 and revenue budget of $22,668,000, producing a small negative tax levy figure in the draft presentation; zoo staff described a projected 2% attendance increase to about 302,379 guests and a projected admission revenue increase of about $513,000.

On capital work, Evans (county staff) read the project list into the record, including Item 10: Capital Project WZ017401, front entrance admissions reconfiguration, and Capital Project WZ020901, Zufari Building roof and HVAC replacement. Morris said the front‑entrance work is designed to improve vehicle and pedestrian flow and reduce safety risks at the Blue Mound Road approaches; he said modeling supports adding a traffic signal and moving ticketing operations to the front of the zoo to improve circulation and reduce dangerous crossing movements. "One of the biggest challenges if you've been to the zoo is trying to go westbound on Blue Mound as you exit, in merging into the traffic," Morris said, adding that the project will also remove a hybrid beacon that staff said had been associated with two pedestrian fatalities in the past.

Zoo staff said current funding for the front‑entrance project is approximately $13.06 million (design and construction authority) and warned that planned funding does not fully include contingency; they said their construction manager will bid the project and the zoo hopes to find savings to increase contingency. The rhino/hippo habitat, nearing completion, is slated to open to the public in December; zoo staff said it features substantially larger indoor space than the previous facility.

Morris and Westfall also highlighted survey results showing high guest satisfaction ratings for animal care and overall experience, and presented the zoo’s community and conservation engagement work, including youth and tribal partnerships. Staff noted revenue sources including admissions, group sales, sponsorship and special events; the zoo expects earned revenue near prior levels and is targeting modest growth in sponsorship and new public events.

No formal county vote occurred at the hearing; zoo leaders said they would move forward with design and procurement steps consistent with county capital procedures and with further updates to the committee as bids and contingency estimates are finalized.

What’s next: Zoo staff will proceed with construction manager bids for front‑entrance work and complete final steps for the rhino habitat opening; staff said additional contingency or funding adjustments may be necessary once bids are received.