Illinois Valley News

Because the Josephine County Fair Board only has until June 30 to get its financial house of cards in order, a fund-raising series is scheduled to try and close the gap.

In November 2006, the county commissioners learned that the fairgrounds was failing to make payroll, and was $68,000 in debt.

The fairgrounds have operated at a deficit for the past five years, but the county always made up the difference through a series of short-term loans issued during the slow winter months. Those loans typically were repaid in June, after activities picked up at the fairgrounds. However, the discontinuation of federal funds prompted the commissioners to stop issuing the loans and order the fair board to make its operations self-sustaining.

During a Wednesday, May 9 board meeting in Grants Pass, Fair Manager Jackie McBee said that the fair still owes approximately $52,000 to the county. Community organizations have thus far donated around $23,000 to help make up the difference, and McBee said that she anticipates other groups will contribute during the next few weeks.

Two fund-raisers were held last weekend at the fairgrounds. A horse event and “Save the Fairgrounds” concert are scheduled for June 2, and wine-tasting June 23. Fair Board Chairman Steve Swearington said that the board has come a long way toward meeting its fundraising goals.

“We’re going to make it,” Swearington said, but added, “There’s no 100 percent way to say we’re home free.”

The Fair Board also is discussing the possible formation of a nonprofit foundation for the sake of pursuing grants. Commission Chairman Jim Raffenburg said that he would encourage such a move as long as the foundation is run separately from the fair board and takes on a supporting role.

“If they want to get a foundation, a separate non-profit, that would be wonderful,” Raffenburg said. “But I’m not sure we can do it under legal statute.”

Under Oregon law, fair boards have more autonomy than any other county advisory board. But laws also are in place to create separations between governing bodies and nonprofit organizations, Raffenburg said.

The process to establish a foundation is “time-consuming,” McBee said, which would further complicate those efforts.

But McBee remains optimistic that the county’s residents and service organizations, combined with the scheduled fund-raisers, will be enough to bring the fairgrounds back to financial solvency.

“The community will not let this place go,” McBee said. “Its roots run pretty deep here.” For more on the fund-raisers, phone 476-3215.

-- Scott Jorgensen
IVN Staff Writer