SACRAMENTO – Assembly Member Frank Bigelow, R-O’Neals issued the
following statement in regards to his disappointment in the lack of
funding for California’s fairgrounds in the newly passed state budget:
“Earlier this week, we voted on a budget that does little to revitalize the economy in rural Califorina,” Bigelow said.
“Despite strong support from a bipartisan group of my colleagues in
both the Senate and the Assembly, funding for California’s 76
fairgrounds located in every county in California was left out of the
state budget. More than 30 million people visit California fairgrounds
annually and their funding is absolutely essential to their future
economic viability,” Bigelow said.
“I represent nine different fairgrounds throughout my sprawling
district and each and every one of them are key economic drivers to
their respective communities. Providing no funding for any of these
facilities while increasing spending on costly state programs is
absolutely unacceptable,” Bigelow concluded.
Local fairgrounds provide much more than family fun throughout
California. In times of distress and disaster, fairgrounds provide a
meeting ground and housing for those in need. Local fairgrounds also
provide opportunities for our youth to become the leaders of tomorrow.
Fairgrounds provide a platform for our counties to showcase tourism
opportunities that may not otherwise be entertained. As we head into the
third year of complete elimination of state funding for our
fairgrounds, we must find a funding source or our communities will lose
these valuable resources.
To stay up to date with the latest developments in the California
budget debate, visit the "California Budget Fact Check" website at cabudgetfactcheck.com.
Lifelong rancher Frank Bigelow proudly represents the 5th
Assembly District, which encompasses Alpine, Amador, Calaveras, El
Dorado, Madera, Mariposa, Mono, Placer, and Tuolumne counties and
includes Lake Tahoe and Yosemite National Park.
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