A court has ruled that the Columbus Zoo must pay a fee to cover fire and EMS services provided by Liberty Township, rejecting the zoo's argument that it is exempt. The township had initially proposed a $1 fee, later reduced to $0.75, to recoup costs incurred due to emergency responses at the zoo. The zoo argued it didn't qualify under a state law allowing fees on large venues, but the court determined that the zoo's diverse offerings, including concerts and events, make it subject to the fee. Liberty Township officials hope the zoo will now cooperate with providing attendance data for accurate fee calculation.
a $1 fee to recoup costs associated with fire and EMS runs to the zoo. They later voted to lower it to $0.75. Zoo officials, arguing that House Bill 315, which allows local municipalities to collect up to $1 per admission from large venues to offset public safety costs, doesn't apply to the zoo.
In 2024, Liberty Township recorded $261,000 in fire and EMS services to the zoo. A $1 fee could generate up to $2 million per year for the township, the zoo said. The law went into effect in 2025 and applies to qualifying event venues such as concert halls, entertainment venues, and theatres. Lawyers for the zoo argued in part that it is an animal conservation and educational institution, which does not qualify.He wrote that the Columbus Zoo is both a zoo and an entertainment venue, or a similar space, that qualifies under the law because it offers "public music concerts, boat rides, weddings, business meetings, and diverse other amusements." “We’re grateful the court ruled so clearly: the Columbus Zoo must pay the Protect and Serve Fee to cover the hundreds of thousands of dollars in Fire and EMS services it uses, rather than passing those costs to Liberty Township and Powell taxpayers,” Liberty Township Administrator Cathy Buehrer said in a statement. “We implemented this fee solely to cover the township’s first responder expenses—nothing more. We’ve tried to sit down with the zoo to get accurate attendance data so we can ensure the fee is precise and avoid overcharging, but they’ve consistently refused to provide actual attendance data or even talk with us. Now that the court has definitively ruled against them, we hope the zoo will finally be willing to sit down with us.”Cold Weather and Snow Advisory remains in effect this morning and afternoon with wind chill values of -15 to -10 possible. Stay with us on this story.Tepe Killings: Suspect threatened ex-wife after their marriage, witnesses told police The man accused of killing his ex-wife and her husband forced her to have unwanted sex, threatened her and abused her during and after their marriage, accordingCOLUMBUS, Ohio — A vehicle crash on Interstate 270 eastbound has triggered significant traffic delays Tuesday afternoon on the city’s north side.A semi-truck reOhio State has long known the who and the where.Now, the Buckeyes know when they'll be playing each game in 2026.The Big Ten just released its full schedule for
Columbus Zoo Fire And EMS Liberty Township Fees Court Ruling
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