Officials work to keep arena, fairgrounds budgets separate

McCOOK, Neb. — Budgets of the Red Willow County Fairgrounds operations and the Kiplinger horse arena facilities continue to be separated as much as possible.

Deb Lafferty, fair board secretary, told county commissioners Monday morning that she takes expenses associated with the Kiplinger buildings out of the Kiplinger, or “horse arena,” budget. “I’m taking everything out of the Kiplinger budget that should be,” she said, explaining that she separates expenses associated with the Kiplinger from expenses associated with the fairgrounds, fairgrounds buildings and county fair. If part of the electrical bill is associated with a Kiplinger event, that portion of the bill comes out of the Kiplinger budget, Lafferty said. Labor costs are divided appropriately between Kiplinger buildings and fairgrounds.

Operations of the fair and the fairgrounds are supported by taxpayers. Operations of the Kiplinger arenas are supported by revenue generated by the facilities. Commissioner chairman Earl McNutt reiterated benefactor Tom Kiplinger’s wishes, “to keep as much out of the taxpayers’ pockets as possible.”

The fair budget for expenses is $686,831.72; the budget for revenue is identical, $686,831.72. Both sides of this budget include a figure of $200,000, which represents a possible donation made to the fairgrounds during the budget year. According to state law, if a donation isn’t included in the revenue budget, it cannot be spent on the expense side until it is included in the budget the following budget year.

The horse arena budget for expenses is $649,997. The horse arena budget for revenue is identical, $649,997. The horse arena budgets also allow for a possible $200,000 donation.

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Commissioners had planned to review the Extension budget during a budget hearing, but Extension officials made changes in line with raise rates set by commissioners without a hearing. Commissioners authorized raises for 2017-18 of up to $270 a month for 35-hour-a-week employees, $280 a month for 40-hour-a-week employees, and 50 cents an hour for hourly employees.

Fair board member Don Klein explained that dirt is being removed from what were the banked turns of the former race car track to areas south and southeast of the grandstand and north of the rodeo arena to improve grade and enhance parking throughout the year.

Klein said the level grade will provide a better site for the county fair’s carnival and that more parking areas will accommodate more activities and events on the fairgrounds at the same time.

Klein said the improved terrain will help meet the public’s expectations of a good fairground environment.

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County treasurer Susan Wesch told commissioners that she issued 61 distress warrants against persons with delinquent personal taxes or real estate taxes on mobile homes assessed and taxed as improvements on leased land, and the sheriff’s department returned only three uncollected. The taxes on these 58 properties totaled $56,769.04; the uncollected amount was $230.49.

One distress warrant was paid after the sheriff returned the list to Wesch, and the remaining two warrants will be reissued in October.

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Commissioners authorized McNutt to signed a contract with the Nebraska Office of Parole Administration to allow the state office to use bed space at the Red Willow County jail if space is available.