HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The interim GM of the Kansas State Fair says a hearing Wednesday before the Senate Committee on Assessment and Taxation on the bill that would allow the fair to collect the sales tax that it generates for all fair and non-fair activities went well.

Bob Moeder commented after the hearing and says it went as he hoped:

 

Moeder says the committee inquired about the fair’s ability to generate enough money so that it would not have to ask Topeka for more money toward capital projects:

 

 

The revenue would be deposited in the fair’s capital improvements fund. Legislators came up with the proposal at the urging of the fair as a way to generate needed capital for maintenance and improvements to the grounds.

The money would replace what is a $300,000 a year infusion of cash that the state is supposed to put into the fair’s capital improvement fund — but rarely does. The state is about $1.6 million behind in that fund. Moeder says, conservatively, the sales tax could generate roughly $300,000 to $500,000 in capital improvement funds each year.

The committee is set to vote on the matter Thursday morning. A yes vote would send the bill onto the Senate floor.