Tulelake Economic Impact of California Fairs

Tulelake, Calif— A Public Forum meeting was held at the Tulelake Fair Grounds Economic Building to discuss the future of the Tulelake/Butte Valley Fair. Questions were asked and some answered. However, there is no clear-cut answer to the economic impact that the Tulelake/Butte Valley Fair faces in the near future.

People hear all the numbers and the cuts that need to be made because the governor “has proposed to eliminate 100% of all California fair funding in the 2011/12 state budget.” There are 78 Fairs total that this cut will affect, not just Tulelake/Butte Valley Fair.

Now what does that mean? It means that Tulelake/Butte Valley Fair may no longer be able to have free parking and free admission. Something has to give one way or another in-order for the Tulelake/Butte Valley Fair to continue as it has in the past. Changes will have to be made and input from the community as a whole will help with their suggestions and ideas on how to generate income if there is to still be a Tulelake/Butte Valley Fair as we all know it to be and have come accustom to having.

What was discussed that was more realistic was charging for parking and a small gate fee for adults with children free to make it affordable for families to attend, not on just one day but come back for a second and maybe a third time. There were many suggestions made on how the Fair could generate income during the rest of the year that would help sustain it during fair time. Such as having Dinner/Dance/Auctions to help off set the cost of the fair. In-order for the Tulelake/Butte Valley Fair to be able to sustain itself without depending on state monies to do it.

Other ideas included making more use of the fair grounds for other events throughout the year that could generate income to offset what the Tulelake/Butte Valley Fair needs to be financially self-supporting. “The current state funding accounts for nearly 30% of the Tulelake-Butte Valley Fair’s budget, which would of course have a serious impact on the fair’s sustainability. Potential changes that may have to occur in order for the fair to remain sustainable and continue to serve the local communities as one of the greatest, family oriented small fairs in the nation as the Tulelake-Butte Valley has for 60 years!”

For more information and input you can contact David S. Dillabo, Chief Executive Officer.

Tulelake-Butte Valley Fair P.O. Box 866 Tulelake CA 96134

Website: http://www.tbvfair.com Office: 530-667-5312 Fax: 530-667-3944