L.A. Zoo Needs to Tame Its Handling of Money, Report Says

The city controller says the department that oversees the Los Angeles Zoo and other city recreation areas has more problems than just proper animal care.

A report released Wednesday details several irregularities with the way various facilities within the Recreation and Parks Department, including the zoo, handled their money--such as not keeping track of cash and not making regular bank deposits.

Among other sloppy practices, the controller found that although the department had authorized $25,000 for a bank checking account--to be used during holidays and other times when the zoo expected a higher visitor volume--the zoo had a bank balance of $1,725 with a balance of $28,500 in the zoo vault.

The zoo supervisor told auditors that it was more convenient to keep the cash in the vault than to go back and forth to the bank, the report said, although bank service fees were offset by interest earnings when the zoo kept more cash in the bank.