Audit says San Francisco Zoo spent $12M without required approval

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) — According to a new audit, the San Francisco Zoo violated city rules by spending $12 million on projects without required approval.

The report looks at the zoo’s finances from 2019 to last year. It claims the zoo was operating under a budget deficit for years while dealing with failures in management and financial planning.

Zoo officials must get permission from the city’s Park and Rec Commission for projects worth more than $50,000.

The report also details claims from zoo employees, saying the zoo has a toxic work environment because of favoritism and discrimination.

KRON4 received the below statement from the zoo’s CEO.

We appreciate the thorough work of the audit team and welcome recommendations that will strengthen the Zoo’s operations and long-term sustainability. Many improvements are already underway, and we are committed to implementing the remaining recommendations. We are grateful to the Mayor, Supervisor Melgar, and Rec and Park for working with us on a responsible loan structure that gives the Zoo the ability to continue this progress and fully deliver on the audit’s recommendations.

San Francisco Zoo CEO Cassandra Costello

The zoo is facing a more than $6 million budget deficit.