Public-private model is the best approach compared to say running the zoo as a city department. The article in the original post incorrectly tries to tie budget issues related to sequestration to a Red panda escape at the National Zoo the only zoo effected by cuts to the federal budget directly (as it its the only one funded at the national level). The idea that you can run a zoo simply as a public venture ie the original zoo model in the United States where the Zoo is a city department, the employees are city employees etc is an idea that no longer makes sense from an economic standpoint there are other priorities for a cities budget. It worked as a model in the 50s and 60s when economic conditions were different, but the model led to the declining quality of many zoos in the 70s 80s and 90s as city budgets were directed elsewhere. Now a Zoo like the Smithsonian or say North Carolina (which is the only "state" zoo that I am aware of) can operate on the purely public model as long as the federal or state funding keeps flowing.
At the same time, the only Zoos that could possibly run themselves completely private would be those with theme park level admissions ie the San Diego Zoo/WAP, Disney's AK, and possibly the Bronx Zoo maybe a few others (I don't know the math) based on things like local economic conditions, tourist destination factors, or even corporate sponsorship. But the point is most zoos could not operate on a purely private for profit model either.
That is why the P3 model is the one that is the best for Zoos in the US going forward. The City still owns the property because of legacy ownership but the Zoo is ran by a non-profit. The City can then donate a good deal of money to the Organization that runs the Zoo at a considerable savings to their budget compared to running said zoo as a city department and in fact can change their contribution based on year to year local and economic factors. I've seen this model work very well at several different zoos.
Its basic economics while keeping former municipal zoos open on a sustainable business path in light of new and changing economic circumstances. And then local municipalities ie (cities towns counties) if they show choose can levy additional property taxes that are directly earmarked for a local zoo, and that is their prerogative in a federal system.
It was merely my opinion that certain areas especially areas like say a Detroit, Akron, or Toledo already have taxes that have their citizens at the breaking point (hence capital flight as a push factor). While the citizens voted for it, it may not be the most economically feasible solution in their situation.
