HUTCHINSON, Kan. —  The Kansas State Fair’s funding for capital improvements may be at risk because of fairgoer misconceptions about the new Kansas State Fair sales tax law.

“Commercial exhibitors are telling us that fairgoers think state sales tax is higher at the Kansas State Fair,” Bob Moeder, Interim General Manager, said. “We want to make sure our visitors understand that Kansas sales tax is consistent everywhere in the state, but when they buy and take delivery of goods at the fair, a portion of the state sales tax collected returns to the fair for greatly-needed improvements to our facilities.”

Exhibitors and vendors are provided a special tax number to use for all goods and services delivered during the event. Fiscal 2017 figures show returning the sales tax generated on the Kansas State Fairgrounds during the fair would produce just over $400,000. About 5 percent of the 6.5 percent state tax would go into the State Fair Capital Improvements Fund.

Moeder said, “The more people shop during the fair, the more we can accomplish to improve the facilities not only for the 10 days of the Kansas State Fair, but also for the hundreds of events held on the grounds throughout the year.”