HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Kansas State Fair General Manager Ed Berger is set to testify Thursday before the Senate Federal and State Committee in regard to one of two Senate bills that would benefit the fair’s financial picture.
Berger will be testifying on Senate Bill 2. The bill would allow fairgoers to take alcoholic drinks outside of the establishment during the fair. Berger feels such a bill would improve liquor sales at the fair by more than 20%. The bill would also allow the fair to collect the sales tax generated by alcohol sales and use it in the capital outlay fund. Sales tax collection on alcohol could reach about $30,000 during the fair.
The other bill progressing through the legislature is S.B. 1, which would allow the fair to use its capital outlay funds for daily operations if needed. The fair is trying to stay up on its finances ever since the pandemic shut down the 2020 event. The bill would be a simple stop-gap for the daily operations and would have a sunset clause ending in 2022. Berger says they do not want to tap into the capital outlay funds if possible, but want the option in place if it is needed.
That bill has been looked upon favorably by both the Senate and the House and is currently in the House Appropriations Committee.
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