Minnesota Shutdown Update: Judge Rules Zoo can Reopen

(7:00 p.m.) Ramsey County District Court Judge Kathleen Gearin ruled Saturday afternoon that the Minnesota Zoo can remain operational during Minnesota’s government shutdown.

She also ruled, however, that Shakopee’s Canterbury Park and Forest Lake’s Running Aces may not operate until the state’s budget debate is resolved.  

In her zoo decision, Gearin used a standing appropriations rule to determine that fees garnered from parking, concessions, admissions, donations and memberships should be returned to the Apple Valley facility.

Gearin’s ruling read: “The statutes regarding zoo special revenue funds do not appear to the court to require a decision by the legislature before they can be appropriated.”

The zoo is scheduled to reopen to the public at 9 a.m. Sunday.

The Minnesota Zoo receives approximately 29 percent of its revenue from the state and—because it was deemed non-essential in Gearin’s June 29 ruling—those funds will be unavailable for the duration of the shutdown.

Gearin’s ruling on the ponies went the other way.

On Saturday afternoon, she denied petitions from Shakopee’s Canterbury Park and Forest Lake’s Running Aces harness racing track, saying the Minnesota Racing Commission must request state funding. Without a biennial budget in place, no requests for funding can be made.

Like the zoo, neither track was considered an essential function in Gearin’s June 29 ruling.  

In contrast, Gearin said she ruled in favor of the zoo because she “was unable to find any bills from the 87th legislative session” dealing with appropriations to that facility.   

According to the Star Tribune, Canterbury Park laid off 1,000 employees in the lead-up to the July 1 government shutdown while Running Aces laid off 600 workers.