I'm sending this from Iraq. When I get back I plan on visiting both places with my kids.These places need money to make our kids happy a couple bucks a year is not allot to ask for.

VOTE YES

Maybe the zoo and aivary should ask Sadia Arabia and Venuzuala for money, seeing as thanks to our inept congress they have all our money.

I for one would rather fund the Zoo and Aviary than the other "higher priorities" listed in the article.

The Zoo and Aviary are wonderful assets to our community through their conservation and education programs. And, they provide great close to home, affordable outings for families.

To the SL County Council - Please put the initiative on the ballot, let the people of Salt Lake County decide, rather than be swayed by a special interest group aka, the Utah Taxpayers Association. They do not speak for me.

As a taxpayer, I will vote FOR the bonds.

This article is not talking about closing either one due to lack of funding it is talking about needing loads of money to expand. The way I see it is if I don't have money in my wallet to expand the amount of groceries in my fridge or pay for extra fuel to get to these places I don't think they need to be hitting up everyone to pay for it with a tax. I love the zoo and the aviary but they will just need to hold back for a little like everything els. I would love to expand my business and can't just get a tax increase from everyone els to do it. Give me a break!

LOL, I wouldnt mind paying an extra $10-$20 a year to fund the zoo. Its one of the few places left in SLC where you can feel completely safe from gang bangers and drug addicts.

To anon: If the issues go on the ballot you can vote no.

Here's how it works.

$10 per year tax increase: sure why not. It's only $10 per year and we won't notice it.

$10 per year tax cut: no, it's only $10 per year and we won't notice it.

Over time, this type of thinking gets very expensive.

One of the great things about Missouri, besides the unique weather, is that we have a free zoo, and it is one of the best.

I live in West Jordan, where the clowns in our city are about to jack up property taxes by between 25 and 40 PERCENT!!!! And that, dear friends is without trying to figure out how to pay for the Jordan district split disaster.

In short, if you think that ONE THIN DIME of my hard earned cash is going towards letting Polar Bears live more comfortably in the desert, you need to get your heads examined.

If anyone can tell me how it is okay to literally tax me out of my $150,000 starter home so that the zoo can build a multi-million dollar habitat for polar bears, then I'll listen. Why should a polar bear get better treatment than a human being?

Until then, get the Sierra club to pay for it. Perhaps they could get the money from the same fund they use to file all their lawsuits with.

They need to close the aviary and give the money that would have supported it to the zoo. I'm sure the zoo brings in more profit, entertains more visitors, and is a heck of a lot more interesting than the aviary.

I'm most definately going to be voting YES on this issue/bond. I 100% support giving the aviary and most especially Hogle Zoo the money they're seeking.

I would much rather have seen Hogle Zoo move several years ago (when that was being debated and voted on) to a larger location (100+ acres), but that ship has sailed and so we need to throw all our support behind re-modeling the zoo and improving living conditions for the animals there as we all can agree that the zoo needs to do this badly and soon.

The improvements the zoo has made so far are good and I want to see more.

What I'd like to know though is what happened to or what is the status of the plan to expand the zoo across the street and sharing the land This is the Place Park is on?

I urge everyone to vote YES on this issue. Let's stick to tradition and do that, we usually do give the zoo the money it asks for. And if you go to the zoo you can see it IS put to good use. The animals deserve and need this help.

Your comments are precisely why the SL County Council should vote to place the Zoo and Aviary Bond issue on the ballot this fall.

Let us as voters decide where our tax dollars will go, rather than simply allowing politicians (or in your case the "clowns in West Jordan") decide where our tax dollars are spent.

You can vote AGAINST the bond.

I will vote FOR the bond.

First, the Jordan School District split is not a disaster... it's a good thing. You only see it as bad because you live on the side which is building so many new schools that need to be funded.

Yes, I live on the East side (Cottonwood Heights) and I totally support the split. On our side of the valley we've been seeing perfectly good school buildings getting closed down in order to divert money to the other side of the valley. To me it would've made more sense to bus some of those west siders over to the east rather than going to the expense of a new school building.

Now we on the East side don't have to send all our tax dollars over to your side where we don't get to partake in the benefits... we can keep the money local and improve our schools in our new district.

As for your zoo comments...

I don't see it that animals are getting better treatment than us. I mean have you visited Hogle Zoo? It NEEDS help. Endangered animals deserve pampering, you're not in danger of going extinct like they are.

I would much rather pay $10 a year for the zoo than for the mountian view corridor. I live near the mountain view corridor and really don't want the road to even happen. They need to figure out a better route for that stupid road, it is 30 seconds away from Bangerter hwy. The better idea would be to turn Bangerter hwy into a freeway. The whole south and west side would be much better served by turning bangerter into a freeway... no lights on and off ramps... has to be cheaper and smarter than putting in a whole new billions of dollars road. I vote give our money to the zoo and aviary!!!!!!!!!!!!!

nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.
If the Zoo and Aviary need money they should raise the price of addmission. I there product is in demand people will pay for it. Other wise they wont. I don't want to pay for the zoo or the aviary, I have never visited either one.

Steve,
Please don't patronize me about paying for my own community growth, my taxes helped fund the Jordan district when the only school west of state street was Bingham High. The West has done it's share of paying for you, too. But now you would rather spend the money on polar bears than people.

As a teacher (Who does not complain about my wages, I knew what they would be when I took the job), I understand the need to fund education,and also to use tax monies wisely for infrastructure, like road projects and community growth. They are necessities.

True, I like the zoo as much as the next person, but I can hardly afford to turn on my swamp cooler. Why in the 7th level of purgatory should I help pay for a bear to get air conditioning?

You have to face the undeniable financial truth that I must face each month. Pay for what you have to have and, IF there is money left, use if for wants. The zoo is a want. Simple as that, and it won't close if we say no.

But feel free to donate your money privately, I'm sure they'll take it.

Hmmm...$10 bucks a YEAR?! Let's see, that's 2 lattes at Starbuck's that I'm pretty sure I can do without...and doesn't that work out to be about $1 DOLLAR per month? Or, even better, 3-cents a-day! Now, that I can afford!

The Zoo rocks - have you been there lately? It is fun, educational and the animals are extremely well-cared for. Where else can my child (or I, for that matter)learn so up-close-and-personal about foreign lands, ecosystems, conservation, and endangered species - wow, priceless experience for sure! At the VERY least, worth 3-cents a day! I'm IN!

You're that strapped for cash that you can't spare $10.00 ONCE a year? I doubt it. As Jones (7/9 @ 3:09 p.m.) points out... that's like doing without something small like going to a movie with a friend, 2 lattes at Starbucks, or not ordering out for pizza one night. You can manage that can't you?

$10.00 a year is barely a blip on the radar for almost everyone, nobody will even notice it's gone. So why not let it go towards a VERY worthy cause like continuing the improvements at Hogle Zoo and helping Tracy Aviary?

As for the Jordan School District split... I'm still all for it, everyone should be. A smaller district on both sides should be a benefit... more indvidualized and personal attention, and best of all money sticking within your own local area rather than spreading thin all over the place.

Yes things like that (schools) and roads are necessities, but so are zoos. How? Well Zoos aren't just there for our entertainment... they're also to educate and help breed/save endangered species. Without zoos some animals could vanish from the face of the Earth. All reasons to vote YES on this bond/issue.

Always amazes me we want SLC to be a world class city and we cant see the forest for the trees. These types of public facilities add to the city and the area. 10.00 per year geez thats all !! Having lived back east I can tell you, you do not even know what property tax is !!

I would gladley give up a couple of pizzas a year to help fund these two fine facilties. Besides I need to lose the weight anyway.

It's a couple of pizza's for you, It is often all that most people have left after paying for gas, electricity, housing, insurance and medical bills!

Your "couple of Pizzas" constitute that last date I got with my wife...a month ago. Before you start to preach to me about priorities, you should know that I have a Bachelors Degree. My wife works full time. I do not have cable tv, i live in a modest house and my cars are 10 years old. No debt! I have cut every expense possible. My budget for entertainment is just enough to rent at redbox a couple of times a month.

I don't really care about what property taxes are back East; I choose not to live there. To answer YOUR question, Yes! $10 a year is more than I am willing to pay to help out the zoo anymore. Add their 10 to the 10 that UTA wants, the 5% the gas company wants, and the increasing cost of everything and this turnip is dry. I DON"T CARE ABOUT ENDANGERED SPECIES, I CARE ABOUT MY KIDS!

Now you answer MY question. Is that stinking animal worth more than ANY human's necessities?

I still fail to see how 10 more dollars a year is going to be THAT noticeable.

To answer your question: If you're talking about an animal that is seriously in danger of going extinct, then yes. Our needs aren't more important than any other animal's, they're equal... as a living being on this planet they deserve as much respect as you.

I have questions for you. What makes you think humans are automatically superior to other animals? Do you seriously believe it's alright to run this planet into the ground (letting animals go extinct at our expense etc.)? I really dislike the attitude some people have of "I'm going to have what I want and da** the consequences to everything around me".

Cool, it's Ten dollars a year for however many years. But just remember, it won't only be $10 because the minute the zoo makes these increases the price will go UP and UP and UP and then it won't be affordable. If you all want to pay your extra $10 a year, then I say to the Zoo put out a jar and collect the money from you patrons but don't ask those of us who don't go to the zoo to pay for your improvements. You guys that go to the zoo like it so much then open YOUR wallets and pay for it.