edward
02-03-2009, 03:33 PM
Cochise County Fair asks Board of Supervisors for help
By Shar Porier
Herald/Review
Published: Tuesday, January 27, 2009 4:16 AM MST
BISBEE — In spite of the fact that funding losses will greatly affect the bottom line, Tom Hunt, secretary of the Cochise County Fair Association, said, “We stand committed to holding the county fair this year.”
Hunt and Karen Strongin, county manager of the fair, met with the Board of Supervisors Monday afternoon in a work session to ask for financial assistance for the 2009 county fair.
“The budget crunch affected us greatly,” said Hunt as he explained that the state cut $42,500 last year, halving the $85,000 the fair usually receives.
The Governor’s Fund provides the financial assistance that fairs need to survive and continue serving communities. This year, that funding more than likely will be eliminated.
It isn’t typical for a fair to make money. Generally, breaking even is considered successful, Hunt added. The trouble is that the fair association is now $70,000 behind, due to state cuts.
In addition to the county fair, the fair association also holds various events, including horse races on two weekends in April that are also supported by the state, Strongin said. Normally, this would bring in funds for the fair. This year, Sierra Vista is holding Frontier Days that could steal participants and spectators on the same weekend as their state-sanctioned races.
The Department of Arizona Racing does provide $55,000 in purse money for the races. Hunt said it costs $35,000 for starting gates and outriders among other expenses.
Supervisors Pat Call, Ann English and Richard Searle want to help but find themselves in a similar position as the state. The county is also experiencing turmoil from the economic slowdown of revenues on all levels. So how can they help?
The county is permitted by state statute to donate up to $25,000 to a nonprofit from the General Fund, stated Britt Hanson, chief civil deputy county attorney.
The county has not offered financial support to the fair other than providing road equipment to grade the parking lot and running a water vehicle to keep dust down. The association did pay the drivers, but there was no charge for the heavy equipment.
That changed last year. Bennie Young, highway and floodplain director, billed the fair around $2,200 for the equipment and the drivers. Such a use of Highway User Revenue Funds is inappropriate since those funds are mandated only for certain public roadway uses.
The county may be able to provide in-kind help at the 2009 fair with General Fund money. That will be determined during the next round of budget talks coming up later this Spring.
A socio-economic impact study commissioned by the Arizona Fairs Association completed by a marketing research team shows the Cochise County Fair is in the top six fairs in the state. The Arizona Sate Fair is by far the biggest, followed by Yuma County, Pima County and Coconino County. Cochise and Flagstaff are tied for fifth place.
And though the study was interesting, it offered no sense of just how much money the Cochise County Fair, now in its 85th year, actually brings to county coffers. The supervisors were curious about sales tax brought in by vendors and gate numbers.
The county fair has the potential to attract some 150,000 visitors, Hunt said. Still, no actual numbers were presented by Hunt or Strongin.
Call said, “Seems to me there’s a tradition here with a value that is hard to measure.”
County Administrator Mike Ortega pointed out that the fair does offer the county public exposure, so there is some value that could be gained.
“My gut feeling is that this is an 85-year-old fair, and there’s the issue of continuing a tradition,” Searle said.
English commented that at one time the county fair was big social event that attracted many rural residents for fun and to show off cooking skills.
“This was the place to go to see old friends. Many considered it a safe place for their families,” English added. “It’s clear all of us support the fair.”
Hunt also said the county usually bought at auction one of the 4-H hogs that was then donated to a local charity. Searle volunteered to do the bidding on the hog after Call said he was in favor of buying one.
Hunt and Strongin said they would get as much information about the economic impact of the fair to Ortega as soon as they could.
Call ended the conversation, “We’re watching every dollar. If there’s a way we can help without impacting the county residents, we will. It’s just not going to be a ‘fair’ year for any of us.”
For information on the 2009 Cochise County Fair, visit cochisefair.org or call fair manager Karen Strongin at (520) 364-3819. The association also takes donations. The fair will run Sept. 24-27.
By Shar Porier
Herald/Review
Published: Tuesday, January 27, 2009 4:16 AM MST
BISBEE — In spite of the fact that funding losses will greatly affect the bottom line, Tom Hunt, secretary of the Cochise County Fair Association, said, “We stand committed to holding the county fair this year.”
Hunt and Karen Strongin, county manager of the fair, met with the Board of Supervisors Monday afternoon in a work session to ask for financial assistance for the 2009 county fair.
“The budget crunch affected us greatly,” said Hunt as he explained that the state cut $42,500 last year, halving the $85,000 the fair usually receives.
The Governor’s Fund provides the financial assistance that fairs need to survive and continue serving communities. This year, that funding more than likely will be eliminated.
It isn’t typical for a fair to make money. Generally, breaking even is considered successful, Hunt added. The trouble is that the fair association is now $70,000 behind, due to state cuts.
In addition to the county fair, the fair association also holds various events, including horse races on two weekends in April that are also supported by the state, Strongin said. Normally, this would bring in funds for the fair. This year, Sierra Vista is holding Frontier Days that could steal participants and spectators on the same weekend as their state-sanctioned races.
The Department of Arizona Racing does provide $55,000 in purse money for the races. Hunt said it costs $35,000 for starting gates and outriders among other expenses.
Supervisors Pat Call, Ann English and Richard Searle want to help but find themselves in a similar position as the state. The county is also experiencing turmoil from the economic slowdown of revenues on all levels. So how can they help?
The county is permitted by state statute to donate up to $25,000 to a nonprofit from the General Fund, stated Britt Hanson, chief civil deputy county attorney.
The county has not offered financial support to the fair other than providing road equipment to grade the parking lot and running a water vehicle to keep dust down. The association did pay the drivers, but there was no charge for the heavy equipment.
That changed last year. Bennie Young, highway and floodplain director, billed the fair around $2,200 for the equipment and the drivers. Such a use of Highway User Revenue Funds is inappropriate since those funds are mandated only for certain public roadway uses.
The county may be able to provide in-kind help at the 2009 fair with General Fund money. That will be determined during the next round of budget talks coming up later this Spring.
A socio-economic impact study commissioned by the Arizona Fairs Association completed by a marketing research team shows the Cochise County Fair is in the top six fairs in the state. The Arizona Sate Fair is by far the biggest, followed by Yuma County, Pima County and Coconino County. Cochise and Flagstaff are tied for fifth place.
And though the study was interesting, it offered no sense of just how much money the Cochise County Fair, now in its 85th year, actually brings to county coffers. The supervisors were curious about sales tax brought in by vendors and gate numbers.
The county fair has the potential to attract some 150,000 visitors, Hunt said. Still, no actual numbers were presented by Hunt or Strongin.
Call said, “Seems to me there’s a tradition here with a value that is hard to measure.”
County Administrator Mike Ortega pointed out that the fair does offer the county public exposure, so there is some value that could be gained.
“My gut feeling is that this is an 85-year-old fair, and there’s the issue of continuing a tradition,” Searle said.
English commented that at one time the county fair was big social event that attracted many rural residents for fun and to show off cooking skills.
“This was the place to go to see old friends. Many considered it a safe place for their families,” English added. “It’s clear all of us support the fair.”
Hunt also said the county usually bought at auction one of the 4-H hogs that was then donated to a local charity. Searle volunteered to do the bidding on the hog after Call said he was in favor of buying one.
Hunt and Strongin said they would get as much information about the economic impact of the fair to Ortega as soon as they could.
Call ended the conversation, “We’re watching every dollar. If there’s a way we can help without impacting the county residents, we will. It’s just not going to be a ‘fair’ year for any of us.”
For information on the 2009 Cochise County Fair, visit cochisefair.org or call fair manager Karen Strongin at (520) 364-3819. The association also takes donations. The fair will run Sept. 24-27.