 The Illinois Policy Institute released a report last month
outlining
the financial cost of the Illinois and DuQuoin state fairs.The
institute's report uses statistics gathered by the state auditor
general to show that between 2001 and 2009, the two state fairs lost
a total of almost $42 million.
"When the state has billions in unpaid bills to core services
like hospitals, mental health facilities and veterans' homes, events
like the state fair should not be adding to the budget deficit," the
report said. "Instead, state fairs should budget the same way
families and businesses across the state do every day -- by spending
no more than they bring in."
The state has a budget deficit of $13 billion and a collection of
unpaid bills of $6 billion.
Last week while talking to reporters, Quinn chastised the
institute for its report.
"There are 'pinheads' who think that we should cut out the state
fair. I think they are all, all wet. I think the people of Illinois
want a state fair to celebrate our agriculture, for people all over
our state to learn about agriculture. So I'm not, in any way, going
to take out the county fairs or the state fairs from the people of
Illinois," he said.
Kristina Rasmussen, vice president of the Illinois Policy
Institute, said state government should be focused on fixing budget
matters.
"Name-calling will not solve the state's budget crisis, and
certainly it's interesting to call a group a name when they're
asking that the state law be followed, mainly that the state fair be
funded through its own revenues," she said.
The report referred to a 1993 state law that created the State
Fair Fund, meant to provide the sole revenue needed to run state
fairs.
When asked about how much money the state loses through state
fairs, Quinn said the emphasis on investment in people involved with
agriculture was more important.
"I'm all about jobs, and good jobs come from agriculture. So the
notion of kicking the state fair in the shins is really wrong," he
said.
Rasmussen acknowledged that $42 million lost over state fairs is
not by itself a tremendous drain on state finances.
"This is about taking a timeout, re-evaluating how the state is
doing business and fixing the problems that are out there. These are
the kind of small things that add up and create the big,
billion-dollar budget deficits we're hearing so much about," she
said.
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As an alternative, the institute's report cited how the state
fair in Texas uses solely private funding and manages to turn a
profit.
Members of the Illinois Future Farmers of America are concerned
that potential cutbacks could prevent kids from learning more about
crops and livestock.
Jake Ekstrand is vice president for the Illinois FFA and a native
of Yates City in west-central Illinois. He said a short time spent
talking to youngsters can have a big impact on how they see food and
farming.
"A young child can grow up, they can be like, 'Oh, I went to the
state fair and I experienced those things with visiting the animals,
talking to people and learning a little bit more about agriculture
here,'" he said.
The Illinois State Fair is scheduled to conclude on Sunday. The
DuQuoin State Fair begins Aug. 27 and runs through Sept. 6.
[Illinois
Statehouse News; By KEVIN LEE]
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