Latest news with #ColumbusZoo
The Independent
5 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
Zoo gets catty and sues town over new $1 tax on memberships
An Ohio zoo has shown its claws by filing a lawsuit against the local township over a $1 tax on all its admissions and memberships. Columbus Zoo and Aquarium filed the lawsuit Wednesday against Liberty Township, who claim that the fee helps cover costs for police, fire and emergency medical services at the park. The proposed tax comes from House Bill 315, which was passed in April 2024 to allow townships to collect up to $1 per admission to offset public safety costs at large venues. In the suit, seen by The Independent, the zoo argues that it should be exempt from the so-called 'Protect and Serve Charge' as it does not meet the criteria of a 'qualifying venue.' Such venues, which include theatres, concert halls, entertainment venues, or similar event spaces, must have a capacity of at least two thousand and be situated on land exempt from property taxation, according to the suit. 'The Zoo is not, and is dissimilar to, a 'theatre, concert hall, entertainment venue, or similar space.' Rather, the Zoo is an animal conservation and educational institution,' the suit states. 'The Zoo is also not considered a 'qualifying event venue' because a portion of the land on which it is situated is not exempt from property taxation.' The lawsuit also claims that a $1 surcharge on each admission would amount to $2 million of taxes per year, given the average number of visitors the zoo receives, while the cost of first responders is only around $260,000. The Columbus Zoo has demanded that an order be passed, forcing the township to declare it is not a 'qualifying venue,' as well as seeking an injunction to delay the township's attempt to collect the admissions tax and decide if such taxes can be collected going forward. 'This is an important legal issue and a matter of standing up for our guests, our mission, and our work in education, conservation, and animal care,' said Tom Schmid, President and CEO of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, in a statement. 'Through our educationally-focused wildlife conservation mission, we have rightly earned our designation as a tax-exempt not-for-profit institution, and it's critical for us to preserve this designation, not just for our organization, but for not-for-profit organizations throughout Ohio. ' The Independent has reached out to Liberty Township for comment about the lawsuit filed by Columbus Zoo and Aquarium.
The Independent
5 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
Ohio zoo gets catty and sues town over new $1 tax on memberships
An Ohio zoo has shown its claws by filing a lawsuit against the local township over a $1 tax on all its admissions and memberships. Columbus Zoo and Aquarium filed the lawsuit Wednesday against Liberty Township, who claim that the fee helps cover costs for police, fire and emergency medical services at the park. The proposed tax comes from House Bill 315, which was passed in April 2024 to allow townships to collect up to $1 per admission to offset public safety costs at large venues. In the suit, seen by The Independent, the zoo argues that it should be exempt from the so-called 'Protect and Serve Charge' as it does not meet the criteria of a 'qualifying venue.' Such venues, which include theatres, concert halls, entertainment venues, or similar event spaces, must have a capacity of at least two thousand and be situated on land exempt from property taxation, according to the suit. 'The Zoo is not, and is dissimilar to, a 'theatre, concert hall, entertainment venue, or similar space.' Rather, the Zoo is an animal conservation and educational institution,' the suit states. 'The Zoo is also not considered a 'qualifying event venue' because a portion of the land on which it is situated is not exempt from property taxation.' The lawsuit also claims that a $1 surcharge on each admission would amount to $2 million of taxes per year, given the average number of visitors the zoo receives, while the cost of first responders is only around $260,000. The Columbus Zoo has demanded that an order be passed, forcing the township to declare it is not a 'qualifying venue,' as well as seeking an injunction to delay the township's attempt to collect the admissions tax and decide if such taxes can be collected going forward. 'This is an important legal issue and a matter of standing up for our guests, our mission, and our work in education, conservation, and animal care,' said Tom Schmid, President and CEO of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, in a statement. 'Through our educationally-focused wildlife conservation mission, we have rightly earned our designation as a tax-exempt not-for-profit institution, and it's critical for us to preserve this designation, not just for our organization, but for not-for-profit organizations throughout Ohio. ' The Independent has reached out to Liberty Township for comment about the lawsuit filed by Columbus Zoo and Aquarium.
Axios
31-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Axios
Columbus Zoo Lantern Festival, "Waitress," CatVideoFest and other weekend events
🥧 Enjoy a delicious mix of humor, heart and snark from the musical " Waitress" at the Short North Stage. 7pm Thursday-Friday, 2pm and 7pm Saturday and 2pm Sunday, 1187 N. High St. through Aug. 10. $35-93. 🏮 Admire Asian lanterns at the Columbus Zoo's festival, back for a second year. 7:30-10:30pm Thursday-Sunday. Through Oct. 5. $17-27 (doesn't include zoo admission). 😋 Feast on fried food during the Ohio State Fair's final weekend. 10am-9pm Friday, 9am-9pm Saturday and 9am-6pm Sunday. $10-12 daily, $20 three-day pass. Kids under 6 free! ICYMI: Where to beat the heat, the best foods on a stick, this year's butter cow and what's new. 🇩🇪 Experience Brats and Crafts, St. James Lutheran Church's annual German festival. 4-9:30pm Friday, 11:30am-9:30pm Saturday and 11:30am-4pm Sunday, 5660 Trabue Road. Free! 😹 Have a claw-some time at Gateway Film Center's CatVideoFest, showcasing the internet's funniest felines. 4:30pm and 7pm Friday; 11:30am, 4:30pm and 7:30pm Saturday; and 11:15am, 1:30pm and 5:30pm Sunday. Through Aug. 10. 1550 N. High St. $8-14. 🍿 Catch a classic during the Ohio Theatre's Summer Movie Series. $5-6. "The Shawshank Redemption," 7:30pm Friday. "The Princess Bride," 7:30pm Saturday and 2pm Sunday. Noon-7pm Saturday. $33. 6-8pm Saturday, 1779 Home Road, Delaware. $30. Bring your own mat.
Yahoo
26-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium Welcomes a Baby Asian Elephant — and Has Another on the Way This Fall
The 215-lb. baby was born on July 23, following a 22-month pregnancy The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium has expanded its animal family by one — and it has plans to do the same again before year's end. A female Asian elephant calf was born at the Ohio-based attraction on Wednesday, July 23, at 4:26 a.m. local time, according to a news release from the zoo. The 215-lb. baby was born to Sundara, a.k.a. 'Sunny," after a 22-month pregnancy. The zoo said both Sunny and her calf — who has not yet been given a name — "are doing well" and are "currently bonding behind the scenes." "The little one is nursing, staying close to mom and beginning to explore with a curious trunk and wobbly steps," the zoo added. The organization then joked, "While trunk coordination may take a little practice, the new arrival is already capturing hearts." Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. The newborn elephant's father, Sabu, is currently at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden. He spent time at the Columbus Zoo during a temporary stay that was made possible through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums' Species Survival Plan Program, which centers on "the breeding of specific animal species in captivity, ensuring their long-term survival and genetic diversity," per its website. Asian elephants are listed as endangered across southern and southeastern Asia, their native range, according to the Red List of Threatened Species from the International Union for Conservation of Nature. These animals are suffering from habitat loss, degradation and poaching, and the International Elephant Foundation estimates that only 40,000 to 50,000 Asian elephants remain on the Earth. The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now! The latest addition marks the first of two planned elephant births at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium in 2025. Phoebe, a 38-year-old Asian elephant, is also expecting a calf this fall, according to the zoo. 'This is an incredibly special moment for our entire team and community,' Tom Schmid, the President and CEO of the Columbus Zoo and the Wilds, said in a statement. 'Welcoming Sunny's calf is an exciting milestone and an important step forward in our ongoing commitment to the conservation of Asian elephants. He added: "Every birth brings hope and reminds us why this work matters for the future of their species.' Read the original article on People Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
26-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium Welcomes a Baby Asian Elephant — and Has Another on the Way This Fall
The 215-lb. baby was born on July 23, following a 22-month pregnancy The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium has expanded its animal family by one — and it has plans to do the same again before year's end. A female Asian elephant calf was born at the Ohio-based attraction on Wednesday, July 23, at 4:26 a.m. local time, according to a news release from the zoo. The 215-lb. baby was born to Sundara, a.k.a. 'Sunny," after a 22-month pregnancy. The zoo said both Sunny and her calf — who has not yet been given a name — "are doing well" and are "currently bonding behind the scenes." "The little one is nursing, staying close to mom and beginning to explore with a curious trunk and wobbly steps," the zoo added. The organization then joked, "While trunk coordination may take a little practice, the new arrival is already capturing hearts." Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. The newborn elephant's father, Sabu, is currently at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden. He spent time at the Columbus Zoo during a temporary stay that was made possible through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums' Species Survival Plan Program, which centers on "the breeding of specific animal species in captivity, ensuring their long-term survival and genetic diversity," per its website. Asian elephants are listed as endangered across southern and southeastern Asia, their native range, according to the Red List of Threatened Species from the International Union for Conservation of Nature. These animals are suffering from habitat loss, degradation and poaching, and the International Elephant Foundation estimates that only 40,000 to 50,000 Asian elephants remain on the Earth. The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now! The latest addition marks the first of two planned elephant births at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium in 2025. Phoebe, a 38-year-old Asian elephant, is also expecting a calf this fall, according to the zoo. 'This is an incredibly special moment for our entire team and community,' Tom Schmid, the President and CEO of the Columbus Zoo and the Wilds, said in a statement. 'Welcoming Sunny's calf is an exciting milestone and an important step forward in our ongoing commitment to the conservation of Asian elephants. He added: "Every birth brings hope and reminds us why this work matters for the future of their species.' Read the original article on People
