Legislative Action

The House of representatives just released the proposed operating budget for July 2017 – June 2019. In it, the Fair fund is completely zeroed out.

The Senate proposed budget released last week included the full $4 million per biennium. The two budgets must be reconciled before legislators can go home.

Please contact your State Representatives. Tell them how important your fair is to your community. Encourage 4-H and FFA youth and volunteers to write letters or send email.

To find your legislators, click here: http://app.leg.wa.gov/DistrictFinder/

To find their email addresses, click here: http://app.leg.wa.gov/MemberEmail/House

You may also leave a message via telephone at: 1.800.562.6000.

Please do not forward this message. Write your own message describing your fair. The Washington State Legislature is busy preparing the next state budget. It will be in effect from July 1, 2017 – June 30, 2019.

The Fair Fund is in the operating budget. The Governor's proposal included $4 million for the next 2 years. That is the same amount the Fund has received since 2002.

Health and safety grants would be in the capital budget. The Governor's proposal did not include any funding for fair grants. There will not be a fair grant program for the next two years unless legislators add it into the capital budget.

Please ask your legislators to support the Fair Fund as it is in the Governor's operating budget.

Also, ask them to add funding for Health and Safety grants to the capital budget.

Legislators hear requests for many, many different projects. If you want a grant program, it is important that they hear from Fair supporters. Please reach out to volunteers, service groups, youth groups and others who support your fair. Ask them to contact all your legislators. (Each legislative district has two Representatives and one Senator. Some fairs cover several legislative districts.) You may reach them via email, letter, telephone, or the toll-free hotline.

To find your legislators, click here: http://app.leg.wa.gov/DistrictFinder/

To find their email addresses, click here: http://app.leg.wa.gov/MemberEmail/Default.aspx

You may also leave a message via telephone at: 1.800.562.6000.

The capital budget is very tight this year. An unprecedented number of school levies passed. The state must match a portion of what local voters approved. There is a limit on how much money the state can spend. Grants for fairs compete for funding with numerous types of construction projects the state supports. At $1 million, the fair grant program is tiny compared to most state spending projects.

Many fairgrounds have aging facilities. Grant funds are typically used for restroom improvements, ADA access, hand washing facilities, improved lighting in parking areas, roof repairs, etc. There is at least one Fairground in nearly every county in Washington State. If your fair has applied for or received a grant in the past, describe your project. Include photos if possible.

When communicating with legislators, please remember they have an incredibly difficult job to do. It is important to be polite, recognize the difficulty of developing a state budget, then point out that fairs help build strong kids, strong families and strong communities.

Please do not forward this message. Write your own message describing your fair. If you have any questions, please contact me:

• From I-5 Southbound: Take 'Exit 105 to State Capitol,' keep left for Exit 105A, and continue for 0.6 miles. Merge with traffic on the left and continue in the left hand lane of 14th Ave SW through the roundabout (Jefferson St.) and under the tunnel 0.4 mi to Capitol Blvd. Continue across Capitol Blvd to the Capitol Building on Sid Snyder Ave SW (14th Ave becomes Sid Snyder Ave).
• From I-5 Northbound: Take Exit 105 and bear left for the State Capitol/City Center exit. Cross over Interstate 5 and keep in the left lane on 14th Ave SE. through the roundabout (Jefferson St) and under the tunnel 0.4 mi to Capitol Blvd. Continue across Capitol Blvd to the Capitol Building on Sid Snyder Ave SW (14th Ave becomes Sid Snyder Ave).