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Fair board previews grandstand lineup and posts revised 2025 budget after racing collapse
Summary
With horse racing revenues removed from the forecast, finance staff presented a May budget reforecast that reduces capex, records recent receipts and projects year‑end cash; the board also approved a grandstand programming slate to broaden fair attendance.
Fair staff presented a May reforecast to supervisors showing the financial effect of removing racing revenue from the 2025 budget and described new entertainment, golf operations and short‑term revenue steps.
Finance presenter Vivian (speaker 12) told the board that removing winter racing and GSR operations reduced projected revenue but that several measures—receipt of an employee retention credit and $1.125 million from sale of equipment—improved the cash position. "With all that information, we get another round of preforecast. So our EBITDA is $4,400,000 at the end of the year," Vivian said, summarizing the May projection and noting reduced capital expenditures from earlier plans.
On operations, staff said the county now maintains the golf course through a contractor (Jeter Golf) after buying out the previous operator's contract; the county financed the buyout and placed the amount on the operator's line of credit, and some cash has been recovered via equipment sales and payments. Staff characterized the net effect as a cash loss this year but an owned asset going forward.
To offset lost racing foot traffic, the fair has programmed three grandstand weekends with action sports, rodeo, tractor pulls and a tethered hot‑air balloon experience along with drone shows and evening entertainment; staff said roughly $400,000 is budgeted for grandstand entertainment. "If they're not coming here for horse racing, they're coming here for that," one supervisor said.
The board also approved a portable‑court Futsal licensing plan for a site near Gate 12 that will include parking and concessions terms and be compatible with major events. Staff said the arrangement uses a square‑foot license model and will be paused during major fair events.
Board members asked for weekly or monthly updates to monitor cash flow, receivable recovery and any new operator proposals. The meeting adjourned after requesting a written strategic plan from the fair board on racing scenarios and tighter county‑association contract language.
No formal budget amendment was adopted at the meeting; the presentation served as an informational May reforecast.
