The Wahkiakum County Eagle - Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891

Wahkiakum County commissioners got the start of the 2012 budget season off to a start Tuesday with a review of the County Fair budget.

Fair Manger Becky Ledtke and Fair Board President Philip Vik presented the fair's budget request. Ledtke asked that the county increase its appropriation to the fair to cover increasing costs in fuel, professional fees, communication and premiums. They proposed moving funds from the repair and maintenance lines to the premium payment line.

Ledtke said the fair board wants to increase the premium payment from $7,500 for 2012 to $18,000 for 2013. This year, for the first time, the fair paid premiums only to youth; adults received no premiums for their awards.

Entries by adults declined significantly, Ledtke said, and a majority of fair board members feel this is because of the withdrawal of premiums.

"I'm one of the proponents of adult premiums," Vik said. "I've been involved in the fair since I was a kid. Exhibits are the heart of the fair. If you don't have exhibits, the fair is not going to be able to go on. Exhibits were off this year; it definitely affected the fair."

"It caused some disgruntledness," Ledtke said. "I had about half the adult exhibits I've had."

Last fall, commissioners cut the budget for premiums as a cost saving measure.

Commissioner Blair Brady has supported the move, saying that he feels that adults should be happy with placing awards.

He also noted that Wahkiakum paid almost double for a premium point than Cowlitz County's fair paid.

Vik and Ledtke responded that the comparison is flawed. Cowlitz gives more premium points for a ribbon, they said, and youth exhibitors can enter the same exhibit in 4H, FFA and Open Class.

The county has struggled with a revenue shortage for several years, Brady said, and funding for non-essential programs is tight. Commissioners have said they would like the fair to become totally self-supporting.

"Yes, but it may never be self-supporting," said Commissioner Lisa Marsyla.

She said she supported restoring premium payments for adults, but she is concerned the fair won't have the money it needs for repairs and maintenance and will need a supplemental appropriation next year.

"I do feel there is a direct correlation between the premiums and exhibits," she said. "We have asked the fair board to serve, so if it is coming straight from the fair board, we have to consider it."

Commissioners agreed that the county, which owns the fairgrounds, would be responsible for major repairs to the fairgrounds.

"We have to be able to use that thing down there," said commission Chair Dan Cothren.

Because of illness in the county auditor's office, up to date financial figures were unavailable. Commissioners said they would keep the fair's comments and requests in mind for later action.

The board continued with budget workshops Tuesday and will adjourn daily this week through Thursday (today) to go over budget requests.

Those left on the schedule today are, 9 a.m., Assessor Bill Coons, 1 p.m., Public Works Director Pete Ringen, and 4 p.m. District Court Judge Bill Faubion.