Overview
- Mayor Cathleen DeSimone said the city will fund Capron Park Zoo next fiscal year with free cash, which are unspent funds from last year counted as current revenue.
- The move withdraws her earlier plan to close the zoo and convert the site, a proposal that had raised alarms about relocating dozens of animals.
- The funding will be filed in the FY2027 budget and still needs approval from the Attleboro City Council.
- The city projects a $2.5 million deficit driven by an 8.4% jump in health insurance costs, and the mayor said some layoffs are expected.
- DeSimone said the stopgap buys time to pursue private fundraising, operational partners, and possible state grants, and she did not specify how much free cash the zoo will need.