So it's all about money after all! 
Previously, the Zoo Society handled the annual membership funds for the zoo. 75% of the money from the memberships went to the non-profit, while the remaining 25% went to the city.
However, the city has now decided that they want to receive 100% of those funds. They claim that they already receive approximately $2.9 million from zoo memberships alone. For any additional funds raised by the Zoo Society, the city plans to adopt a model similar to other city organizations, such as the El Paso Museum of Art.
“We could hire a development officer to handle that work. We could collaborate with a fundraising organization. Personally, I find the art museum foundation to be an amazing example,” shared Mack. 
The city has also pointed out that the Zoo Society has not been fulfilling their contractual obligations since 2018.
“In their 2018 contract, they were required to raise $7.5 million as a subsidy for our master plan. This money was meant for 11 specific projects, which have not been completed. The Zoo Society hasn't undertaken any capital projects,” explained Mack. 
