Minnesota Zoo Fights to Stay Open If State Government Shuts Down

Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton for which state employees could keep working and which services would still be offered in the event of a state government shutdown on July 1; a judge would make the final decision, should the state not pass a budget by the end of this fiscal year on June 30.

One of Dayton's proposals would keep 150 Minnesota Zoo employees working—about half the staff—but the zoo would be closed to the public. According to an article from TwinCities.com (Pioneer Press), the zoo is petitioning to stay open.

The zoo earns about $50,000 a day from admissions during July, its busiest month, the article says; zoo Director Lee Ehmke says in the article that the zoo can sustain itself with the admissions money it brings in during the summer.

The zoo's new Penguins of the African Coast exhibit also is scheduled to open to the public on July 9, which Ehmke said in the TwinCities.com article could help boost attendance this summer.

For more, check out the article, "Minnesota Zoo wants off Dayton's state shutdown list," at TwinCities.com.

For more information on the possible state government shutdown: Another article from TwinCities.com highlights which services a state government shutdown could stymie; Minnesota Public Radio also has put together a Frequently Asked Questions page with more information about what the possible shutdown could entail and why.