Washington County Fair Board approves FY25–26 spending plan, discusses lottery funds, biosecurity and master plan costs

The Washington County Fair Board on Feb. 5 approved the financial reports and on a voice vote approved the proposed fiscal year 2025–26 spending plan and the fee schedule after a presentation from staff and brief discussion.

Leah, a county fair staff presenter, told the board the packet contained a balanced spending plan and a budget memo intended to clarify line-item changes and county cost-allocation adjustments. She said the fair’s recurring state lottery payment is $53,166 and noted that transient lodging tax (TLT) money for the fair is distributed by county ordinance, with the fair receiving 35% of the TLT designated for fair/fairgrounds and the remaining 65% going to the fairgrounds account.

The memo and packet also broke out personnel and administrative costs; Leah said personnel costs charged to the fairboard portion total $514,522 for 18 on-site staff, and that county administrative charges (separately listed) are about $127,000. Leah told the board entertainment was budgeted at roughly $500,000 and that overall expenditures reflect about a 10% increase over the prior year, driven in part by rising utility and garbage costs.

Why it matters: the board’s approval sets the financial baseline for vendor contracts, public-safety staffing and fair operations next year and frames the county’s requests to the county commission and to state legislators about fair funding.

Major points from the presentation and discussion

- Transient lodging tax and state lottery funds: Leah explained how the TLT transfer…