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| 7/29/2010 2:54:00 PM | Email this article • Print this article
Comment on this article | BOC votes to put fairgrounds district on ballot
By Elane Dickenson
Wallowa County Chieftain
The formation of a Wallowa County Fairgrounds District will be decided by county voters in November.
The Wallowa County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously Wednesday, July 28, to put the district on the general election ballot at the second of two public hearings.
If approved, the county-wide fairgrounds district would have a tax base of 19 cents per thousand property value, which would raise $100,000 a year to operate and maintain the fairgrounds. A five-member board of directors for the district would also be elected in November.
"I feel you are on the right track, by asking the people," said Paul Castilleja, a Joseph businessman and Republican candidate for county commissioner. He said, however, he thought he would have gone for a three- or five-year bond issue, which wouldn't have a non-ending tax base.
BOC chairman Mike Hayward noted that by law the county must put a district involving a property tax base to a vote of the people. He also said that, historically, a bond issue is usually for a big capital expenditure, such as the Ant Flat Landfill levy of 9 cents per thousand that retired this year.
The present Wallowa County Fair Board, which is appointed by the BOC, requested the formation of the district because of reduction of state funding of fairs and the strong possibility fairs may be cut out of the state budget entirely in the future.
"We've got a huge hole we can't fill," said fairgrounds manager Randy Garnett. He said that he and the fair board couldn't find any other way to come up with the needed money to operate, take care of deferred maintenance and make improvements. "It's up to the people of Wallowa County, "It's the their fairgrounds, and we're asking for their help ... by asking them for a tax base. ... The property has huge potential that hasn't been reached because of lack of money." He said that someone with $100,000 worth of property would pay $19 a year in taxes for the fairgrounds.
All three county commissioners -Hayward, Dan DeBoie and Susan Roberts - pointed out several times during discussion that they were deciding only whether or not to put the measure on the ballot, not supporting or opposing it.
"I believe it merits being put on the ballot so the people can decide," Roberts said, adding that then it would be up to the supporters and opponents to make their cases before the election.
If approved, the Wallowa County Fairgrounds District would be the first in Oregon.
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