WOODSTOCK, Ill. (AP) - The possible loss of state funding for county fair prizes and rehabilitation projects could affect county fair budgets across Illinois.
Gov. Bruce Rauner listed those as part of his proposed cuts if the Republican and Democratic lawmakers don’t agree on a budget deal starting July 1. Lawmakers have yet to send him the 2016 budget, which is unbalanced by more than $3 billion, and Rauner has said he won’t sign it, The Northwest Herald (https://bit.ly/1Lv3uUk ) reported.
State funding for county fairs in Illinois has decreased in recent years, as the state struggles with dwindling finances.
Funding for the McHenry County Fair has dropped by about a third over the past five years. The fair now stands to lose $45,000 in state funding, according to McHenry County Fair Board president Ken Bauman.
“You yank $45,000 out from under us, that changes things,” Bauman said. “Our goal is to not lose the quality of the fair.”
Funding from the state for this year’s fair accounted for more than 7 percent of its total budget, which currently is at $615,000, he said.
Although they’re anticipating a financial hit, both Bauman and Lake County Fair General Manager Matthew J. Robertson are trying to remain optimistic about Rauner’s plans to include funding for county fairs in his budget cuts, they said.
The Lake County fair likely will have to get more “creative” to make up for the lost funds, Robertson said.
“It may mean that we have to up our game in terms of seeking corporate sponsorships. We’re very frugal anyway about how we spend as a not-for-profit, but we’re going to look for more operational efficiencies,” he said.
Contributions from the community also could help make up for the budget shortfall facing the McHenry County Fair, Bauman said.
Both Bauman and Robertson are assuring the public that the county fairs will be held again next year.
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Information from: The Northwest Herald, https://www.nwherald.com
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