LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — One of the world’s top-ranked zoos could be exempt from Nebraska’s state sales tax under a bill filed in the Legislature.
Sen. Heath Mello of Omaha introduced a bill Friday to exempt zoos and aquariums from the tax. The bill would benefit Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo, ranked No. 1 in the world this summer by travel website TripAdvisor. The zoo draws more than 1 million visitors to the city each year.
The measure would include any zoo or aquarium accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Nebraska has three other accredited facilities: Lee G. Simmons Conservation Park & Wildlife Safari in Ashland, the Children’s Zoo in Lincoln and the Riverside Discovery Center in Scottsbluff.