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Ag Director Debates Fees For Exotic Animal Owners
By: Associated Press
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Ohio's agriculture director says the current fee structure wouldn't cover the cost of a proposal to regulate dangerous exotic wildlife in the state.
Animal owners had complained that some proposed fees would be cost-prohibitive. The bill's sponsor, Republican Sen. Troy Balderson of Zanesville, agreed to cut some of those fees in response before the measure was approved by the Senate.
Agriculture Director David Daniels spoke Wednesday to House lawmakers considering the program. He estimated it would cost his agency $600,000 a year. He says there would be a "huge gap" between the cost and the revenue produced.
Efforts to regulate exotic animals took on new urgency in October, when a suicidal owner released dozens of tigers, bears and other creatures. They were killed by authorities.