There’s a lot of information out there, so we wanted to share the facts.
Residents pay; zoo pays zero
The Liberty Township Fire Department, which is funded by residents of both Liberty Township and Powell, spends hundreds of thousands of dollars in costs to provide critical fire, EMS, and other services to the Columbus Zoo. While the Columbus Zoo is located completely in Liberty Township, the zoo pays $0 in property taxes to offset these costs.
The zoo is unique and expensive
Because of the Columbus Zoo, Liberty Township first responders spend more money for many other costs, too. Our first responders have to be specially trained to provide medical aid to Columbus Zoo staff who have been bitten by venomous snakes and attacked by different exotic animals over the years. Our fire prevention staff has had to spend many hours at the zoo because of the large solar energy site they have.
Zoo services can put residents at risk
Recently, incidents at the Columbus Zoo resulted in every single one of Liberty Township’s ambulances being at the zoo. If a Liberty Township or Powell resident had a medical emergency at that time, we would have been unable to help our residents who actually pay for our services.
Zoo refuses to talk
Liberty Township has been reasonable trying to work with the Columbus Zoo as partners while safeguarding the money its residents spend. When Liberty Township leaders approached them about Ohio’s Protect and Serve Fee, the zoo was rude and refused to even talk with us about the hundreds of thousands of dollars our residents pay to support the zoo.
Zoo makes millions and pays zero
The zoo, which made nearly $10 million in profit according to its 2024 IRS filing, shamelessly demands that hardworking Liberty Township and Powell residents bear hundreds of thousands of dollars in costs to provide critical fire, EMS, and other services — subsidizing Columbus residents and other out-of-town visitors. The zoo pays its CEO over $760,000 but refuses to contribute anything for the emergency services it demands, forcing Liberty Township and Powell taxpayers to foot the bill.
Zoo loses in court
Liberty Township Trustees voted to institute a $1 Protect and Serve Fee to recoup some of the hundreds of thousands of dollars our residents have paid over the years and continue to pay. The Columbus Zoo sued us to avoid paying for the services they use. But they lost in court, where a judge said the fee applies to them — the zoo defiantly refuses to follow the law, forcing Liberty Township to file a lawsuit to enforce compliance and protect taxpayers’ rights.
Trustees reduce fee
When the zoo finally provided Liberty Township Trustees with very basic attendance information, Liberty Township Trustees voted to reduce the Protect and Serve Fee from $1 to .75 cents, ensuring it covers the costs of services while lowering the burden on everyone. The zoo still refuses to follow the law and pay the fee.
Zoo lobbying threatens fee
Instead of following the law, the zoo is trying to use its political clout to pressure the Ohio General Assembly to cave to their demands and repeal the Protect and Serve Fee completely. The zoo board, appointed by Democrats in Columbus and Franklin County, shouldn’t be able to force Republicans in the Ohio General Assembly to keep Liberty Township and Powell residents subsidizing the zoo’s operations.