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 The latest figures
available show that the 10-day event in
Springfield lost $2.8 million in 2009, and an even larger $3.7
million in 2008, or about 47 percent and 40 percent, respectively,
according to Illinois auditor general reports.
All of the money the fair makes goes into the Illinois State Fair
Fund, most of which goes back into the operation of the fair. This
year the fair used an additional $800,000 from the state's general
revenue fund, which includes tax dollars.
Amy Bliefnick, manager of the state fair, said legislators have
talked about raising ticket prices from the current rate of $5 for
adults and $2 for children 13 years and younger, but she did not
provide any specifics.
At this year's fair, parking and entry fees cost a family of four
between $21 and $27 at the Illinois State Fairgrounds, depending on
the ages of the children.
Donald Cox, a senior citizen who attended the fair Monday, said he
has been coming for years and would shell out at least a dollar more
than the $5 admittance fee to keep coming.
"We just like to see some of the new things, and it's just an
experience to be out," Cox said while eyeing his favor fair fare, a
pork chop on a stick.
The Illinois Policy Institute, a nonprofit free market think tank,
released a study this past year suggesting that the state could save
money by outsourcing the responsibilities of the fair to a private
company. The study highlights Texas, whose state fair is run by a
private company and makes profits of about $5 million each year.
"We think the state fair is a really important state tradition but
see no reason it should burden Illinois taxpayers," said Amanda
Griffin-Johnson, senior budget and tax policy analyst for the policy
institute.
So far that idea has gained little traction in the General Assembly.
Many state officials say the 158-year-old fair is not just about
earning the state money.
"The point of the state fair, I think, really is to showcase
Illinois agriculture. It's the most important industry in the state.
One in four people are employed in agricultural pursuits," said
Thomas Jennings, director of the Illinois Department of Agriculture.
"You'd always hope that you at least break even," Illinois
Comptroller Judy Topinka said at her tent on the fairgrounds Monday.
"We do lose some money from time to time. There are folks who say
this is something we should cut. How can you think that way? This is
our flagship that we send out every year. That brings everyone
together. ... It's a wonderful place"
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Despite losing money, the fair contributes millions to the state
economy, said Jennings.
A report commissioned by the agriculture department a decade ago,
when the state was losing nearly $5 million on the event, showed
that the fair brought in $36 million, Jennings said.
"We're redoing that (decade-old) study this year to ascertain what
that number might be in present-day terms," he said. Jennings could
not give a date or timeline for when the results of that study would
be available.
Despite the fair losing money over the past decade, that trend may
be changing, Jennings said.
"We've had vendors indicating that they've had three times the
business in one day this year than they did (all 10 days) last year.
So (when) those revenues increase and improve, it closes the gap
between how much it costs and the actual return on that investment,"
he said.
Bliefnick said she had heard similar good news.
"We sold the most concert tickets we've ever sold. We sold 15,300
(Sunday night). Not only did those people buy tickets to the
concert, they paid admission. They paid parking; they bought a few
beverages, and maybe a corn dog or two. Add all of that together and
it helps," Bliefnick said.
The fair runs through the end of this week.
[Illinois
Statehouse News; By ANDREW THOMASON]
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