Metro’s own auditors say the Oregon Zoo is not ready to handle the $380 million bond that voters approved in 2024, warning that the zoo does not yet have the staff or systems to manage a multi-year construction program of this size. The audit, released Tuesday, says key project controls, scheduling tools and performance measurements are still missing, even as early work gets underway.
The report from the Metro Auditor’s Office points to gaps in project controls, incomplete performance measures and an understaffed bond team. Auditors say those weaknesses have already affected initial work and are making it harder for the Metro Council and the public to see whether projects are staying within their promised scope and budgets.
What The Audit Found
Auditors pinned the zoo’s early stumbles on three root causes: ineffective project controls, the sheer scale of the new campus plan and a bond team that is not yet fully staffed, according to The Oregonian/OregonLive. The audit notes that the zoo started hiring contractors before the campus plan was formally adopted, a sequencing choice that raised concerns for the review team.
The report also criticizes a November 2025 budget amendment that changed the entry project and added office remodel work in ways auditors described as not transparent. On top of that, auditors flagged the first project out of the gate, an entry plaza enhancement, for delivering only about half of what was originally promised so far. That shortfall, the report says, raises questions about whether the project’s scope and resources were lined up properly from the start.
Zoo Response And Next Steps
Zoo leaders say they largely agree with the auditors and insist they are already working to close the gaps. In a statement to The Oregonian/OregonLive, COO Marissa Madrigal wrote, “All of the audit report's recommended steps are underway or have already been taken.” Officials also said the entry project has stayed within its budget and that only one bond team position remains unfilled.
Oversight And Timeline
An oversight committee appointed by Metro began meeting in February 2026 to keep tabs on spending and progress. Auditors recommended that this group be given clearer performance measures and regular cost and schedule reports, according to the Metro Auditor’s Office.
The zoo’s bond page, which outlines the campus plan adopted in September 2024, lays out the project list and timing and notes that the zoo typically draws about 1.5 million visitors a year. That audience is a big part of what is at stake for Portland residents and taxpayers. According to the site, design work for larger animal projects is scheduled to begin this summer under the current bond timeline.
Why It Matters
Voters approved the $380 million bond in 2024 to pay for more than a decade of upgrades to animal habitats, guest amenities and basic infrastructure, according to OPB. With early projects already moving and contractors on site, auditors say Metro and the zoo need to lock in performance measurement tools and finish staffing key positions so the program can show clear, transparent progress and avoid costly scope creep.
