Washington County Fair Board approves financial report through May 2024

The Washington County Fair Board voted July 10 to approve the year‑to‑date financial statements through May 2024.

Board members voted to adopt the financial report after staff presented a memo and financial statements covering fiscal year 2023–24 through May. The motion carried on a voice/hand vote; board members indicated the motion passed with no recorded votes against.

Board members and staff noted several line items that exceeded the planned amounts on the spreadsheet but said the overages do not exceed overall budget authority. Leah (staff member) told the board that some accounts are over while others are under and that transfers between accounts are not done routinely. The group discussed professional services as a notable expense category and parking costs as a recurring high expense.

During discussion a board member noted parking costs “so horribly expensive,” citing multiple components — deputy staffing, parking staff, striping and rental equipment — and referenced an approximate parking expense figure of $186,000 mentioned in the meeting. Leah said the board is budgeting for parking and that parking fees had not been raised.

A board member asked whether the current fiscal‑year budget (effective July 1) had been adjusted; Leah responded the FY24–25 budget was adjusted based on last fiscal year. Members asked staff to follow up on specific line items that appeared over budget for additional detail after the meeting.

The board called the vote after a motion to approve the financials; the chair asked members to raise their hands and reported the motion carried.

Less critical follow‑up items included a request to check a roughly $2,500 training charge and confirmation of travel/training noted for one member who was out of state.

The board will receive further budget detail if members request specific clarifications.