Ok, so I played with the words but needless to say, this blog entry is about the publicly-owned LA Zoo who's fundraising and membership program is operated by a nonprofit, a really productive nonprofit that raises $10-13 million a year. As a cost-reduction plan, the City is planning to privatize the management of the Zoo, conceivably a $20 million annual savings. This is business planning at its best -- when an operator doesn't have the funds and values the service, it can either raise fees, cut services, or find a way to cut costs. Privatizing can achieve the first goal and theoretically not affect the service. Not so simple however when city employees and wages are at stake, so that must be factored in while thinking through the solutions.
Complicated yes -- impossible no.
To think further about these business planning issues, see the related LA Times article.
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