Hunter
10/05/22
The Johnson County Agricultural Association is asking the county Board of Supervisors for increased funding to sustain operations at the Fairgrounds.
The Daily Iowan reports that the association has taken two financial hits recently; an employee allegedly embezzled over $60,000 between 2018 and 2020, and an application window for funding was missed, causing the county to cut support from $89,400 in fiscal 2022 to just $52,000 this fiscal year.
The Ag Association has asked for additional funding so that they can continue to offer the annual county fair at no cost for attendees.
The Supervisors have asked for a list of buildings that need priority renovations, and have made suggestions like increasing building rental fees and making association membership fees annual instead of lifetime.
Fairgrounds Office Manager Heather Johnson assured the Supervisors that additional protocols have been implemented to prevent further embezzlements, and assured that despite the financial issues the Association is dealing with, the County Fair will continue to be an annual tradition.
