Scottsbluff City Manager Rick Kuckkahn says a fifty percent reduction in city funding of the Riverside Zoo and consolidation of services with Gering and the county, especially in the public safety area, are needed in the next three years to keep city services at its present level. Kuckkahn told the council the zoo's cost per patron is over $21, a very expensive luxury compared to the average $4 per patron cost to fund the city pools and library.

Kuckkahn said within three years the city's contribution to the zoo must be cut from $800,000 a year to a cap of $350,000, forcing it to be the self-sustainable facility that was promised when a city sales tax was first implemented to help improve the zoo.

Kuckkahn told the city council Monday night the city will need to cut almost a million dollars from its general fund over the next ten years to retain city services at their current level and keep a comfortable annual cash reserve of $840,000. The projections assume an annual two percent growth in revenues and a three percent hike in expenses.

Council members said zoo society members would need to understand a "reality check" is necessary. Council member Dave Boeckner also said Kuckkahn would need to take a leadership role as "C.E.O." of the city..... and work with a zoo society that will almost assuredly take a negative view to the proposal in making the changes necessary to reduce the city's funding role.