Fairs, Festivals Study Good Idea
By The IntelligencerFairs, festivals and other special events add to the enjoyment of life in West Virginia, beyond any doubt. Many Mountain State families look forward to county fairs, festivals celebrating certain types of music and those centered around good food.
But do such events bring tourists to West Virginia? Do they help communities with economic development? And how is state money provided for such events being spent?
Members of a joint interim committee of the Legislature want answers to those questions. They plan to investigate state funding for fairs and festivals and issue a report late this year or early in 2009.
More than 400 fairs, festivals and other special events receive state funding through the Division of Culture and History. Money for the purpose comes from state lottery revenue.
About $2.9 million for the purpose was included in the state budget for the year beginning July 1. But Gov. Joe Manchin used his line-item veto authority to trim the total to $2.6 million. He did so by eliminating funding for 21 events and reducing it for 30 others.
That probably will not make Manchin very popular among those who organize the events, not to mention some of those who patronize them. For example, some people will take offense at the fact that the governor did not believe the annual Dandelion Festival in White Sulphur Springs was worthy of state funding.
Legislators who are joining Manchin in taking a critical look at funding for fairs and festivals are right to be seeking more information, however. Simply doling out money to anyone holding a special event of any kind probably is not wise.
We are not certain that economic development and tourism ought to be the only criteria for state special event funding, however. Some events, including most county fairs, are worthwhile simply because of their educational component. They help to preserve elements of West Virginia culture that are, if not endangered, at least not well known by many of our state's residents.
Members of the legislative interim committee indeed should examine how money is spent for such events. Whether safeguards ensuring that the public's money is spent wisely should be considered. And, as noted above, committee members should discuss whether existing guidelines for funding are appropriate.
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Georgetwin
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06-24-08 10:49 AM
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Location tells the tale for any such event. If they are close to I-68/I-79/I-70 they will catch some overflow from the highway.
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