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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Chinese site uses Medford domain name for car scam ... Medford teen sentenced for assaulting baby ... Mercy Flights debuts new helicopter ... Chinese site uses Medford domain name for car scam ... Medford teen sentenced for assaulting baby ... Mercy Flights debuts new helicopter ... OUR VIEW Our View: Maintaining a major community asset Comment MailTribune.com Writer Posted Feb. 11, 2015 at 12:01 AM Posted Feb. 11, 2015 at 12:01 AM What do you think? --> Have an opinion on this topic? Send a letter to the editor at www.mailtribune.com/sendletter or email ... » Read more X What do you think? Have an opinion on this topic? Send a letter to the editor at www.mailtribune.com/sendletter or email [email protected] . » Social News The Jackson County Expo and Fairgrounds has had its share of financial trouble in the past, repeatedly turning to the county commissioners for loans to stay afloat. So it's welcome news that the Fair Board expects to be in the black by the end of this fiscal year. But even if the board and the interim fair director come up short, the Expo is worth preserving as a major community asset. Successive boards of county commissioners have hounded successive Fair Boards and managers, demanding that the facility become self-sufficient. Despite progress in that direction, the Expo has never reached that goal. As we've said before, perhaps close is as good as it gets, and that's not necessarily a bad thing. The Expo has struggled with some long-standing practices that hurt the bottom line. Changes now in the works include limiting the number of free fair passes handed out to community organizations and substituting written contracts with vendors for the handshake agreements common in the past. The county finance department is now handling the books for the fair, saving a substantial amount of money. Fair Board Chairman Chris Smith acknowledges the county is still providing $185,000 a year for maintenance of Expo buildings, a cost he hopes the fairgrounds can assume at some point. If that can happen, great. But if it can't, maintaining buildings that are county property is not the worst thing the county could be doing. The Expo is more than just the location of the annual five-day fair. It is a major community asset that brings dollars into the county all year long. Livestock shows, rodeos and commercial events bring exhibitors who stay in local hotels, eat in local restaurants and contribute directly to the local economy. County Commissioner Doug Breidenthal was on the right track when he called the fair "the heart of the community." The commissioners should not lose sight of that reality, and commit themselves to preserving the Expo, even if that means some continuing financial support.  MailTribune.com Writer Posted Feb. 11, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501