Columbus Zoo to have single board with tighter spending controls - The Columbus Dispatch
Agreement tightens financial oversight of public levy money spent by Columbus Zoo following revelations in Dispatch investigation and amid state probes Franklin County and the city of Columbus have quietly put in place a new agreement that will eliminate one of two boards with oversight over the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, changes the make-up of the remaining board and ensures better financial accountability. The new memorandum of understanding agreement puts the zoo on a tighter financial leash by requiring the nonprofit Columbus Zoological Park Association to provide the county with all "necessary information to assure (taxpayer levy funds) are used appropriately," according to the agreement. The changes follow a 2021 Dispatch investigation that revealed zoo executives allowed relatives to live in houses owned or controlled by the zoo, obtained tickets for their family members to attend various entertainment events, and raised questions ab...