Bonner County reviews fairgrounds budget, seeks funds for hydrants, bleachers and fair book

Bonner County commissioners met with Fair Manager Mark Knapp at a budget workshop to review the fairgrounds operating and capital needs, including a request to maintain a $40,000 fair‑expenses line (account 89‑10), a separate $20,000 capital request to replace four damaged fire hydrants (request entered to line 93‑80), and rollover authority for unfinished FY25 projects.

Mark Knapp, Fair Manager, told commissioners, “Our budget focuses as well only on our A and D budget, for personnel salaries and benefits and our B budget, which has, historically been used for supplies, repairs, and maintenance.” He laid out recent work — bleacher removal and reconstruction, lighting upgrades, insulation of a shop, and repairs to swine wash racks — and asked that unused project funds be allowed to roll into the next fiscal year so the work can be completed.

The workshop centered on three near‑term financing items. Knapp said the county’s 89‑10 line, historically used for “fair expenses,” was increased from $20,000 to $40,000 in FY25; commissioners asked staff to…