The city says an estimated $5 million from an approved Charter amendment will help the Honolulu Zoo enhance its programs and its budget.

Guy Kaulukukui, director of the city’s Enterprise Services department, which oversees the zoo, said Wednesday after a Council Budget Committee meeting that the funding stream approved by Oahu voters in November is projected to offset the costs to subsidize the zoo in about five years. He said the revenue will bolster zoo programs and projects to help boost attendance.

The City Charter amendment, approved by about 57 percent of voters who cast ballots, mandates that half of 1 percent of annual property tax revenue will be dedicated to the zoo starting in July. It would be repealed in 2023 if the zoo is not reaccredited.

“What we expect is that the zoo’s operating budget should increase based on its ability to generate more revenue,” Kaulukukui said. “The (Charter amendment revenue) actually should have a growth effect. Some of the new programs … all of those things that can generate more revenue allow us more expenses. If we didn’t have the incentive to do that, if we didn’t have the ability to do that, then I think what we would see over time is continued deferred maintenance and smaller and smaller budgets.”

The 42-acre zoo lost accreditation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums last year. The association had cited the zoo’s inability to retain a director as a reason. Dr. Baird Fleming, who resigned last year after leading the zoo since 2015, was the fifth director in six years. But the lack of a steady and consistent funding source appeared to be a major contributing factor.

For next fiscal year, Enterprise Services is proposing a $7.1 million operating budget for the zoo, which is an increase of 4 percent or about $293,000 more than the current 2017 fiscal year. The request includes $40,000 for an elephant or another large animal and $220,000 to replace a chain-link-fence viewing area with glass for the tiger exhibit.

The zoo’s proposed $1.6 million capital improvements budget, which is a 24 percent decrease or $480,000 less than the current fiscal year, proposes projects including a replacement bird facility for $200,000, a native flora and fauna exhibit for $100,000, roof refurbishment for the Savanna exhibit for $485,000 and water system upgrades for $200,000.

Several of the projects are in the planning and design phases, which are not as costly as those undergoing construction, said city spokesman Andrew Pereira, explaining the proposed decrease in the CIP budget. He said the zoo is also undergoing other construction projects whose funds were allocated in previous budgets.

Kaulukukui said the zoo plans to reapply for accreditation in 2019. He said AZA would likely visit the zoo in November 2019 and would make a decision in March 2020. He said the department plans to start the search process for a new director next month.