Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - January 22, 1999
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136

Locke restores funding for agricultural county fairs

OLYMPIA — Gov. Gary Locke announced today that his 1997-99 Biennial supplemental budget restores $6 million to the Fair Account for agricultural fairs.

Through 1998, the state Fair Fund had been financed by a portion of the pari-mutuel tax, a state tax on wagering at horse races. Last session, the Legislature approved Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill 6562 (E2SSB 6562), which temporarily eliminates the pari-mutuel tax as a source of revenue to the Fair Fund. As written, the law could have affected general funds coming into the state, and it would have had an effect on the current state lottery revenues. Locke vetoed portions of the bill that he deemed unreliable.

This year, Locke submitted a special funding package to the Legislature that will support fairs, yet still enables the state to meet its financial obligations.

"I remain committed to restoring the dollars for the Fair Fund this legislative session in my special funding package to ensure that state and county fairs, which are so important to our state, can continue uninterrupted," Locke said. "I am confident the Legislature will adopt this funding for fairs."

The proposal will provide ongoing fair funding by the time it is needed for the next fair season beginning in March 1999.

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