The governor's proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year may take the lion's share of the Beardsley Zoo's state aid.

Gov. M. Jodi Rell plans to slash the zoo's annual $380,000 earmark in half. The cut would pose major problems for the zoo, which runs on a yearly budget just over $3 million.

Zoo director Gregg Dancho says state cuts would force them to try and raise more money privately, a tough task in the current economy.