Riverbank Zoo reports lower millage projections, seeks hospitality tax and county support to cover budget gap

Riverbank Zoo and Gardens presented its FY27 proposed budget and said the institution expects lower county millage collections in the coming year and has requested hospitality tax support to offset the gap. The presenter said Riverbank welcomed about 1.1 million visitors in the prior year, noted recent capital work including the Saluda Sky Ride and described a balanced FY27 operating budget that relies on earned revenue (~$17 million) and roughly $10 million in public and private support.

The presenter said county millage appropriations fell (the millage estimate used for FY27 is lower than FY26) and that Riverbank proposed increasing hospitality‑tax support to keep operations whole; the decrease in millage appropriations was quantified in presenter slides and staff said the auditor's office indicated carry‑forward timing and collection variability account for reductions in projected mill collections. Riverbank confirmed audits are posted publicly and said it had increased hospitality funding in past years to compensate for millage reductions.

Council members pressed for detail on the decreased mill collection figure and staff explained a smaller carry‑forward in FY26 and conservative collection estimates led to the change. The presenter said the zoo applied for hospitality tax support and will continue to pursue state and private funding to support capital needs.

What happens next: staff and the auditor will help clarify the projected millage and hospitality tax amounts during the budget process; Riverbank will pursue state and private grants for capital priorities.