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Council approves Riverbanks Zoo funding split between millage and hospitality tax
Summary
Richland County Council voted to fund Riverbanks Zoo and Gardens at requested levels, approving a combination of millage agency funding and hospitality tax that matches the current fiscal approach.
Richland County Council on June 5 approved funding to make Riverbanks Zoo and Gardens whole by approving both the millage‑agency line and a hospitality‑tax allocation, consistent with the current fiscal year’s approach.
Council members discussed whether zoo funding should come entirely from millage, entirely from hospitality tax, or a split of the two. “We would still need action on the motion… to make them whole,” a council member said during the exchange; staff clarified the county had previously cut zoo millage in half and made up the remainder with hospitality tax this year. ACA Thomas summarized that “the millage that you’re looking at… was actually the remaining millage. The remainder was funded through hospitality tax.”
A motion combining approval of item 4 (Riverbanks Zoo request) and item 19 (hospitality tax split) passed by roll call; the council voted in favor and the motion was approved.
Why it matters: Riverbanks is a major tourist attraction; funding decisions affect the zoo’s operating budget and whether general‑purpose mills or tourism‑related hospitality funds pay for ongoing operations.
Next steps: With council approval, staff will implement the split funding as reflected in the adopted line items and include the amounts in the final budget ordinance for third reading.
