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http://www.omniture.com --> Sections Home Page Local News AP News Blogs Archives Business Classifieds Event Calendar Forums Life Opinion Obituaries Multimedia Photo Gallery Readers Photo Gallery Sports Tempo Weather Road Cams Special Coverage 2006 Britt Festivals --> Shop Our Valley AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Search Our Valley Special Sections Distinctly Northwest Women in Business Homelife Magazine Joy Magazine Oregon Golf Info Oregon Wine Info Other Publications Local Links Ashland News eSouthernOregon Newspapers In Education Personals Moving Here Movie Listings TV Listings Volunteer Customer Service Advertise With Us Media Kit Place Classified Ad Contact Us FAQ's Home Delivery Site Map --> Email Story to a Friend March 21, 2007 Expo asks Central Point to ante up Park managers are struggling with budget cuts caused by reduced federal support of Oregon counties By buffy pollock for the Mail Tribune CENTRAL POINT — Jackson County Expo managers are asking city officials to kick in financial support for the fairgrounds that cash-strapped county government will no longer be able to provide. Facing a shortfall of almost $160,000, Expo manager Chris Borovansky asked the City Council to contribute as much as one-third of the city's annual hotel-motel tax revenues. Borovansky told the City Council at a study session on Monday that without adequate funding, the fairgrounds might have to scale back or eliminate locally-based events that don't raise enough money to pay their own way. The Expo has operated in recent years on a budget of about $2 million annually, and raises most of its own money through concerts and other money-making events. In the past, Jackson County made up the difference with a portion of the $23 million it received in annual payments from the federal government under the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self Determination Act. Congress has not renewed the law, and county administrators have made cuts in many departments. The entire county library system is scheduled to close April 6. Advertisement In January, Borovansky said the Expo would be seeking additional donors and sponsors to make up for lost county support. He asked the city to provide up to $100,000 — about one-third of its annual hotel-motel tax revenue — to maintain existing fairgrounds services. "We're basically in the same situation as the library, or health and human services, or roads"¦ but in our case, it's not being reduced, it's being eliminated," Borovansky said. While the Expo brings in substantial revenues for large scale events, Borovansky says those earnings are countered by events hosted for reduced rent — or for free — for local groups. "In addition to being a well-run business, we are a community center for small events and family events," he told the council. "The danger with this funding cut is that some of the smaller, more local activities will be pretty hard hit, like barrel racing, smaller weddings, bird shows — events that don't generate a lot of revenue but are still important to the community." Councilman Dick Halley said he had no problem with helping to fund the fairgrounds, but that the council would likely review the requested amount. "We have no problem giving them a certain percentage for advertisement, but these other things, I'm not sure what it's about just yet," Halley said. "This $100,000 bit, we don't usually give them that kind of money. More like $20,000's what we've been giving." Halley said. "We need to use that hotel-motel tax for things that can bring in money to the area, and we've got to do it legally and properly. If it's there, there's no sense in saving it. I'm sure we're glad to help, if we have it." Council member Bruce Dingler agreed. "It's certainly to the benefit of the city that the fairgrounds is successful," he said. "By law, part of that tax has to go to promote tourism and certainly a successful fair does that. As for the actual amount, that will be determined at a later date," he said. Dingler suggested that other cities in the county should consider supporting the Expo, too, because it is a county entity. Mayor Hank Williams said the council would likely have further discussion on the fairgrounds request. "It's going to be up to the budget committee, and I'm sure there'll be a considerable amount of discussion before something is done," Williams said. So far, hotel-motel tax revenues collected by the city have been used in small amounts to promote events such as those sponsored by the city's Rogue Creamery and the annual Wild Rogue Pro Rodeo, which is held at the fairgrounds. Acknowledging that his request was far from small, Borovansky said a significant portion of Central Point's hotel rooms are being filled by people who come to events at the Expo. "Fairgrounds are an economic engine for tourism. There's no question during big events that most of the hotel rooms in the area are filled as a result of events going on at the fairgrounds," Borovansky said. "While we want to do large events and operate as efficiently as we can, we also want to make sure we're the place people go for local events where they feel a sense of community"¦," he said, "and we could use as little help to keep that going." Buffy Pollock is a freelance writer living in Medford. E-mail her at [email protected]. Would you like to respond to this story? If so Click Here to visit our forums. Advertisement Copyright © 1997-2007 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. 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