The Attorney General of Texas
September 28, 1979
MARK WHITE
Attorney General
Honorable Felipe Reyna Opinion No. Mw-6 0
Criminal District Attorney
McLennan County Re: Use of county funds to
Waco, Texas 76710 operate a zoo.
Dear Mr. Reyna:
You have requested our opinion regarding the use of county funds to
operate a zoo. Article 6061t provides:
Section 1. In this Act, ‘governmental unit’ means a
city, town, independent school district, ‘or any other
political subdivision.
Secticn 2. Any other governmental unit may by
agreement establish, provide, maintain, construct,
and operate jointly with another governmental unit
located in the same or adjacent counties,
playgrounds, recreation centers, athletic fields,
swimming pools, and other park and recreational
facilities located on property now owned op
subsequently acquired by either of the governmental
units.
See also V.T.C.S. art. 608lf (county authorized to acquire and improve
-You ask whether McLennan County may contribute funds for the
operation and maintenance of, and capital improvements to, the Central
Texas Zoo, which is located on property owned entirely by the City of Waco.
The animals exhibited at ,the zoo are owned by the Central Texas Zoological
Society, a nonprofit corporation.
In Attorney General Opinion H-413 (1974), thii office held that,
pursuant to article 6081t, a county is authorized to contribute to the
construction of a swimming pool by an independent school district on land
owned by the district, so long as the agreement serves a proper public
purpose, results in an adequate benefit to both parties, and provides for joint
participation. See Ten. Const. art. RI, S 52. In our opinion, a similar
rationale is applicable to the operation of the Central Texas Zoo. The
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Honorable Pelipe Reyna - Page Two (NI+6 6 )
agreement between McLennan County and the City of Waco should be drawn so as to
indicate clearly that a public purpose is being served and that both the city and the county
will derive a benefit from its execution. In addition, the sgreement should assure that the
zoo is under the joint control of the parties See also Attorney General Opinion H-93
(1973).
Although the zoo is operated by a nonprofit corporation, which also owns the
exhibited animals, we do not believe that the proposed arrangement will thereby be
rendered invalid. The present agreement between the Society and the City of Waco
provides that the Society shall have no power to “bind the City by . . . any contract . . . or
to impose any liability upon the City without [its] prior written consent.” In Attorney
General Opinion H-R23 fl978), this office held that a county was authorized to contract
with a rape crisis center for the performance of services which the county might itself
have performed. Likewise, since McLennan County and the City of Waco are authorized
by article 6081t jointly to operate a zoo, we believe that they may jointly contract with
the Central Texas Zoological Society to operate the facility.
SUMMARY
A county is authorized by article 6081t, V.T.C.S., to contribute
funds for the maintenance and operations of a zoo located on
property owned entirely by a city.
~~
Attorney General of Texas
JOHN W. FAINTER, JR.
First Assistant Attorney General
TED L. .HARTLEY
Executive Assistant Attorney General
Prepared by Rick Gilpin
Assistant Attorney General
APPROVED:
OPINION COMMITl’EE
C. Robert Heath, Chairman
David B. Brooks
Walter Davis
Susan Garrison
Rick Gilpin
William G Reid
Bruce Youngblood
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