Baltimore is prepared to forgive nearly a half-million dollars in unpaid water bills for the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore and give its management $1 million more to fix aging infrastructure.
Local and state governments have increased funding for the zoo, which is located in Druid Hill Park, after zoo officials called attention to a $3 million budget deficit in 2006.
The Board of Estimates is expected to vote on the measures today. According to its agenda, the unpaid bills amount to $473,541 and date from 2002 through 2005. The agenda cites the zoo's "ongoing financial difficulties" and describes the money as "uncollectible."
Zoo spokeswoman Jane Ballentine said the zoo is paying its current water bills and that the balance was accumulated years ago when the zoo's budget situation was more dire.
"That was a period of time when the zoo was facing some serious financial issues," Ballentine said.
The grant, if approved, would be used for improvements to the zoo's water and wastewater facilities. Ballentine said some of the zoo's infrastructure dates to the 1800s.
The zoo, which is managed by the Maryland Zoological Society and has an annual operating budget of about $12 million, named former Baltimore County Executive Donald P. Hutchinson in September to serve as its interim president and chief executive officer.
