It will soon cost more to visit the Los Angeles Zoo. Due to a financial deficit, the Los Angeles City Council decided to raise the zoo admission prices by 40 percent for children, and decided not to increase water and electrical rates, after a massive public opposition.

According to the Los Angeles Times, H. David Nahai, General Manager of the Department of Water and Power, said that more money is needed to fix old water systems and electrical lines.

Under an ordinance approved Tuesday by the City Council, zoo admission prices will increase $2 starting in April. The new prices will be as follows: $12 for adults (13 and over), $7 for children (2 to 12) and $9 for seniors (62 and over).

Prices are supposed to increase by another dollar in July 2009 and once more, in July 2010.

The new zoo fees are expected to increase revenue by $450,000 by June 30, according to a report from the City Attorney's Office.

After establishing the increase of the zoo charges, the council discussed again about the DWP rates, which the department had tried to impose two months ago, unsuccessfully.

The DWP is trying to convince the council that rate hikes are necessary. They proposed an increase of 6 percent for water and around 9 percent for electricity. But the city council postponed the vote on rate hikes once more, after discussions that lasted several hours.