State of play: The way the zoo skirted paying property taxes is now illegal. What they're saying: Zoo officials weren't available to comment by publishing time, a spokesperson said. The latest: The zoo filed paperwork with the county last month asking to reclaim its exemptions. The statute of limitations only allows for five years of taxes to be collected. Delaware County Auditor George Kaitsa tells Axios the zoo likely owed more.The zoo started making regular payments in 2020, but didn't pay the $44,000 in back taxes until last summer, after the larger scandal came to light.

The other, on Riverside Drive, was rented to an unrelated, undisclosed tenant.īetween the lines: Delaware County discovered in 2019 that the properties weren't being used for a tax-exempt purpose, emails obtained by Axios show.But eventually, former chief financial officer Greg Bell rented a property on Powell Road to his daughter for below-market rent, an investigation found.These decisions don't just impact the bottom line - they're also a blow to the public's trust in a beloved central Ohio institution.Ĭatch up quick: The two rental properties originally received tax exemptions in the early 2000s because they were used to house visiting zoo personnel, like veterinarians. Why it matters: This is another ripple of mismanagement and corruption by former zoo leaders in recent years. The Columbus Zoo has repaid nearly $44,000 in back taxes for two rental properties tied to last year's financial scandal.

Columbus zoo scandal