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The Prairie Village Steam Threshing Jamboree just wrapped up, so it must be time for the South Dakota State Fair. It's also time for State Fair Manager Jerome Hertel to contend that the Legislature should make the state subsidy of $750,000 to the fair a permanent line item in the state budget.
Hertel makes the rather odd argument that making the fair subsidy permanent would "relieve some of the skepticism" about the fair. (That's a quote from the AP reporter, not directly from Hertel.) To be fair, the skepticism Hertel has in mind is the skepticism of vendors, who he says can be tough to recruit when funding for the fair is uncertain. Hertel obviously does not have in mind the skepticism of many lawmakers and taxpayers, who wonder why the State Fair can't generate the revenue to support itself.
There is a role for government to support culture and recreation. Heck, even the successful Sioux Empire Fair gets $230,000 from Minnehaha County (if I'm reading the 2008 budget right—see this PDF, page 3, line 524).
But in case Hertel can't convince Pierre to make the State Fair subsidy permanent, here are some alternative funding possibilities:
- Turn the unclaimed property booth into a raffle. Folks can still come and claim their property, but the state can also raffle off any checks or land not claimed by the last day of the fair. Or heck, after the fair, just declare any unclaimed property abandoned and apply it toward next year's Fair budget.
- Put the winners of the new market meat goat show to good use: gourmet sandwiches! Goat-lettuce-tomato brushetta at the Women's Building... mmmm....
- I have a soft spot in my heart for .38 Special, but maybe, just maybe consider recruiting a rock act that has put out more than one disc of new material in the past decade?
If we can't fork out a dollar per SD resident to support the state fair, then we might just as well cut out 4-H and the entire extension service along with it. I can think of many programs and personnel that could go first.
ReplyDeleteThe legislature and governor have been lacking in enthusiasm for any funding of the fair. I would not vote for any candidate that did not support the state fair and the 4-H program. In fact, I would get off my passive/aggressive butt and actively campaign for the opposing candidate - no matter what the party.
I'm for spending the money where it generates the most good. Would you rather fund 4-H and the state fair or pay for more convicts in our prison down the road?
I was in 4-H. My mother was a leader. My kids belong now.
The fair organizers were given a limited amount of time to get their financial act in order, which they accepted, but they never have so they get extension after extension. Locally the 4-H buildings are shingled and painted probably with my tax dollar only to be used a few days each year. If the fair is equally inefficient they deserve to go under. Somebody finally removed that tacky sign made from spray paint "Aluminum Cans Here" which I had to look at for at least 3 years. I was about to call somebody. That terrible promotional jingle was used for at least 25 years which didn't do anything except make me feel old. BQ
ReplyDeleteThat ugly sign was made from chipboard. If the state fair can't support itself they should focus on the important functions. And be fair: if a kid can't show his pig he's not immediately headed for the state pen. We have many needs to prioritize. BQ
ReplyDelete