HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Kansas State Fair Board was in agreement to take two pieces of legislation to the state that will help the fair gain some financial traction.
Interim GM Ed Berger wants to send one proposal that would allow the fair to collect more of the liquor tax it generates from beer and wine sales at the fair. The other is a request to let the fair tap into its capital funds for operations until the financial picture of the fair improves.
The fair has lost significant revenue due to canceled events including this year’s fair. The state passed legislation two years ago that allows the fair to keep the sales tax it generates for fair and non-fair events with that money going into the capital improvement fund.
But with the cancellation of the fair the board is hoping that the state will let them tap into those funds to keep the daily operations of the fair running. The request comes at a time when the fair was pushing ahead with plans to make major renovations to several buildings. How this request will affect those plans remains to be seen.
Berger says he will get both pieces of legislation pre-posted so they can make their way through the legislative process as early as possible.
The Board also said that they would not pursue a new GM until after the new year.