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Committee approves release of $3 million reserve to San Francisco Zoo
Summary
By a 3-0 vote the Budget and Finance Committee approved releasing $3,000,000 in reserved funds to the San Francisco Zoological Society for general operating needs after the budget analyst reported improved cooperation on an ongoing audit.
The Budget and Finance Committee on Sept. 17 approved the release of $3 million in reserved funds to the San Francisco Zoological Society, which operates the San Francisco Zoo under contract with the city.
Background: The society operates the zoo under an annual contract with San Francisco; the city had placed $3 million of the $4 million annual subsidy on reserve in June because the Budget and Legislative Analyst office (BLA) had reported concerns about the zoo’s cooperation with a performance audit directed by the Board of Supervisors. The zoo’s chief financial officer, Jeff Pace, told the committee the organization had increased its cooperation with auditors since the concerns were raised and requested the reserve release to continue operations.
BLA recommendation and oversight: Dan Goncher of the Budget and Legislative Analyst briefed the committee that his office had been conducting a comprehensive performance audit. After the June letter to zoo management noting cooperation shortfalls, BLA observed significant improvements in the zoo’s cooperation and recommended approval of the release. BLA also said it had retained an outside subject-matter expert, Dennis Pate, former CEO of Omaha’s zoo, who will assist with animal-welfare review and site visits.
Vote: The committee approved the release with a 3-0 roll call (Dorsey, Chen, Chan — all "aye"). The BLA estimated the audit will be completed in the spring before the next budget cycle and said it will continue oversight.
Ending: The $3 million will be released to the San Francisco Zoological Society to support ongoing operations; the committee expects the BLA to finish the audit and report back in advance of the next budget cycle.
