Selene Kinder<\/p>\n
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. \u2014 [August 12, 2026] \u2014 Kern County election officials have assigned an official\u00a0 ballot designation to the California Living Museum Zoo Improvement and Conservation Act of 2026 \u2013 Retail Transactions and Use Tax. When Kern County voters open their ballots this November, the citizen led measure to fund CALM Zoo’s future will appear as Measure Z.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The designation follows the measure’s certification earlier this summer, when Kern County officials\u00a0 placed it on the November 3, 2026 ballot after more than 32,500 residents signed their names in\u00a0 support. The measure now has a name voters will look for on Election Day.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The measure proposes a 1\/8 of 1% local sales tax, one penny for every eight dollars spent. The revenue\u00a0 would be dedicated exclusively to CALM Zoo and could not be diverted to other purposes. It would\u00a0 repair infrastructure first built by volunteers more than 40 years ago, protect animals from extreme\u00a0 heat, improve wildfire and disaster preparedness, expand exhibits to give animals larger, more natural\u00a0 spaces, and modernize guest amenities to create a memorable experience for every guest. For Kern\u00a0 County, it is estimated to generate more than $24 million annually to fund animal care, education,\u00a0 conservation, guest amenities, and long-planned improvements at the zoo.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cNow that this measure has a name voters will look for in November, the choice in front of Kern\u00a0 County is simple,\u201d said Jim Damian, Businessman and President of the Board, Protect CALM Zoo.\u00a0 \u201cFor one penny on every eight dollars, we turn a local treasure into a destination that draws\u00a0 families from across the Central Valley. That is an investment in Kern County jobs, visitors, and a\u00a0 place our families will treasure for generations to come.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
For more than four decades, CALM Zoo has been a community treasure for families in Kern County. It is\u00a0 the only zoo in the country dedicated exclusively to California’s native species. Home to more than 200\u00a0 non-releasable animals representing over 80 California native species, CALM Zoo provides lifelong care\u00a0 for animals that cannot return to the wild. Each year the zoo welcomes more than 100,000 visitors and\u00a0 serves over 25,000 students through field trips, STEAM programs, and hands-on learning that build a\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
deeper understanding of California’s wildlife and ecosystems.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I walk through CALM Zoo’s gates, I see the imprint of people who fought for that vision,\u201d\u00a0 said Maddie Janssen, Former KGET News Anchor and CALM Foundation Board Member.\u00a0 \u201cMeasure Z is about making sure that work doesn’t stop. It’s about telling the next generation of\u00a0 Kern County kids that we fought to protect this place for them.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
CALM Zoo’s Measure Z mirrors the success of Fresno Chaffee Zoo’s Measure Z, which voters approved in\u00a0 2004, 2014 and again in 2023 to provide dedicated local funding for zoo improvements, animal care,\u00a0 education, and conservation. For Kern County, this measure could create local job opportunities,\u00a0 strengthen internship programs, and provide a sustainable foundation for capital improvements that\u00a0 benefit the community for generations to come.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cFor more than 40 years, CALM Zoo has been one of Kern County’s treasures, a place of wonder\u00a0 for our kids and the ones who come after them,\u201d said Jeff Gutierrez, President of DeWalt\u00a0 Corporation and CALM Foundation Board Member. \u201cAs a business leader, I also see what CALM\u00a0 can become. Measure Z will grow it from a local favorite into a regional destination, the kind of\u00a0 place that puts Kern County on the map. 40 years ago this community built something special,\u00a0 and this is how we carry that forward for the generations to come.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The naming of Measure Z arrives alongside another milestone for the campaign. The Protect CALM Zoo\u00a0 Endorser Wall is now live, listing the people who support CALM Zoo’s future and the wildlife that\u00a0 depends on it. Over the coming months, the Protect CALM Zoo coalition will continue reaching out to\u00a0 voters across Kern County with information about the measure, the Master Plan, and why CALM Zoo\u00a0 matters to this community.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Visit ProtectCALMZoo.org to learn more, add your name as an endorser, or contribute to the campaign.\u00a0 Then this November, vote YES on Measure Z.<\/p>\n
About CALM Zoo\u00a0<\/p>\n
The California Living Museum (CALM Zoo) is the only zoo in the country dedicated exclusively to\u00a0 California’s native species. Located in Bakersfield, CALM Zoo has called Kern County home since 1983\u00a0 and today welcomes more than 100,000 visitors each year. CALM Zoo’s mission is to forge a connection\u00a0 and appreciation between the community and the California ecosystem through education, guest\u00a0 experiences, and conservation. Learn more at calmzoo.org<\/p>\n
About Protect CALM Zoo\u00a0<\/p>\n
Protect CALM Zoo is the community campaign supporting Measure Z, the local ballot measure to fund\u00a0 CALM Zoo’s Master Plan. Add your name as an endorser and follow the campaign at\u00a0 ProtectCALMZoo.org. This November, vote YES on Measure Z.<\/p>\n
Ad paid for by Protect Calm Zoo, Vote Yes on Z\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ad Committee\u2019s Top Funders\u00a0<\/p>\n
Central Church of Christ of Bakersfield\u00a0<\/p>\n
Rotary Club of Bakersfield, California<\/p>\n
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