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Agricultural Fair Funding – The Governor’s first proposed budget suspended the General Fund transfer of $2 million to the Fair Fund for fiscal year 2011. The Fair Fund currently has a balance of approximately $1 million so the proposed fiscal year 2011 suspension would have reduce the amount available to county and local fairs from $4 million to $3 million during the 2009-11 Biennium.
The Washington State Fair Association strongly opposed any suspensions, temporary or otherwise, to the Fair Fund.
The following statements provided in the WA Fairs Economic Impact Report completed in 2006 create the foundation for our reasons to continue receiving the full balance of the Fair Fund: · In 2005 7.8 million people attended events held at fairgrounds throughout Washington State, more than the state population of 6.3 million people (Washington State Office of Financial Management, 2006). By comparison, 4.6 million people visited Seattle Center and approximately 1.2 million attended events at Key Arena in 2005(Beyers, 2006). · Gross economic impacts from Washington State fairs and other fairground activities were between $350 million and $385 million in 2005. · Fairs and fairground activities supported between an estimated 5,630 to 5,807 temporary jobs in 2005 with numerous more volunteer opportunities. · Estimated labor income for all jobs related to the fairs is between $48 million and $51million in 2005. · Estimated tax revenues generated by fair and non-fair gross economic activity range between $22.7 million and $25.0 million in 2005. · Fairs and other fairground activities played a vital role in fund raising for many non-profit groups hroughout the state. · In addition to the economic contribution that fairgrounds provide to the state, they can also provide a space for emergency services (The Daily Herald, 2006). |
