The Lehigh County Board of Commissioners was divided regarding a proposal presented by two board members to provide future funding to the Lehigh Valley Zoo.

The proposal, presented by Commissioners Tom Creighton and Percy Dougherty, would provide a yearly subsidy of $185,000 from 2014 through 2016.

"I have a lot of apprehension as to whether I want to approve anything beyond 2014 based on the financial situation of this county and what the taxpayers may be facing at the end of 2014," Board President Lisa Scheller said.

An earlier proposal presented by Lehigh County Executive Matt Croslis would have ensured a funding stream to the zoo, located in Schnecksville and Lowhill Township, from 2014 through 2019.

Under his plan, the zoo would receive $185,000 yearly from 2014 to 2016 and $150,000 from 2017 through 2019.

Commissioner Scott Ott said he was opposed to awarding the zoo a long-term contract as a yearly funding allocation is sufficient to allow the zoo to operate.

"I still feel the zoo is the crown jewel of the county park system and we owe the zoo some financial support for the next couple of years," Dougherty said.

Commissioner Michael Schware, opposed to the initial proposal, offered a compromise allotting the zoo $185,000 in 2014, $125,000 in 2015, and $65,000 in 2016, amounting to $60,000 less than the original proposal.

He said a proposal beyond three years was not acceptable.

Commissioners Vic Mazziotti and Ott supported Schware's counter proposal. "It gives stability to the zoo," Croslis said of the three-year proposal.

County Executive-elect Tom Muller told the commissioners he fully supports the three-year funding proposal for the zoo.

The 2014 county budget, approved last month, provides $185,000 in funding to the zoo for next year.

Commissioners are expected to again discuss funding of the zoo at a future meeting.