A move to eliminate $4 million in funding for Washington fairs is the target of local lawmakers in Olympia.
Majority Democrats in the Washington House last week passed a $45 billion budget that includes the reduction in money for county fairs.
Many lawmakers, including Republican Rep. Mary Dye of Pomeroy, pressed for an amendment allowing the State Treasurer to make a statutory change that would move $4 million over the next two years to fund fairs. However, the amendment failed.
Dye pointed out that while education is a prime focus of the Legislature this session, not all education comes from a classroom. She argued how fairs give children the opportunity to learn about long-term responsibility, especially through programs such as the FFA and 4-H.
Meanwhile, majority Republicans in the Senate also failed to include funding for fairs in their budget proposal.
Asotin County receives about $30,000 to help with the costs of its fair, while Garfield County got about $31,000 from the state last year.
The Legislature is scheduled to adjourn its regular session April 23. (Washington House Republicans, LMT)
