Local groups seek TOT funds

Several local groups seeking Transient Occupancy Tax revenue made their requests to the San Diego County Board of Supervisors during hearings June 6 and 7.

The Bonsall Chamber of Commerce and ten Fallbrook organizations were among the groups seeking Community Enhancement funds. Each supervisor will decide how to allocate his or her allotted amount, and the final approval of the Community Enhancement funds will be part of the fiscal year 2005-06 budget process and could occur as early as June 28, when the supervisors begin budget deliberations.

The money for Community Enhancement funding is obtained from the Transient Occupancy Tax collected from lodging facilities in the unincorporated portion of the county, although organizations in incorporated cities are also eligible or funding. Most organizations will receive less than the amount they requested. The amount awarded is not based on the previous year’s funding. From time to time the existence of unspent Community Projects funds, which are another discretionary budget of each county supervisor, allows supervisors to fund requested projects through the Community Projects budget rather than with the Community Enhancement funding.

The Bonsall Chamber of Commerce seeks $21,000 for a Bonsall Directory, a business expo, a Bonsall clean-up project and a Bonsall Fair. Last year the chamber received $8,000 of Community Enhancement funds.

The Fallbrook Art Association received $8,500 of 2004-05 Community Enhancement funds and is seeking $10,000 this year. That money would be used for fine art exhibitions, shows, demonstrations, lectures and workshops as well as college scholarships to Fallbrook Union High School District students and art assist programs for Fallbrook Union Elementary School District students and for Camp Pendleton.

The Fallbrook Chamber of Commerce, which received $82,000 of TOT revenue last year, seeks $200,175 for tourist information, tourist attractions, economic development, referral of county residents to services and Internet reach and presence.

The Fallbrook Food Pantry, formerly known as the Fallbrook

Community Project, received $3,500 last year and has requested $5,000. That funding would be used for a camera and software system for client identification cards, a video projector and screen for group presentations, a laptop computer for off-site communication and countertops.

The Fallbrook Gem and Mineral Society obtained $3,000 in 2004-05 and is requesting the same amount this year. The 2005-06 money would be used for the addition of an ore cart and sign, exhibit cases and a scale model of a fossil mastodon.

The Fallbrook Historical Society did not receive any Community Enhancement money in 2004-05. The 2005-06 request of $10,000 would fund bookcases to store oversized reference books and protective covers for existing display cases.

The Fallbrook Land Conservancy Foundation received $2,500 last year and has asked for $44,000 of 2005-06 funding. That allocation would be spent on the Tails on Trails Walk, Stage Coach Sunday, the Firescape Garden, Fallbrook-area trees, Santa Margarita Park and Santa Margarita trails improvements.

The Fallbrook Music Society did not receive any 2004-05 funding from TOT revenue and is seeking $8,000 of 2005-06 funds to bring the Hungarian Symphony Orchestra or a substitute international orchestra to Fallbrook for a concert.

The Fallbrook Village Association received $25,000 of last year’s funding and has requested $67,000 for 2005-06. That money would allow for two new regional art shows, tourism project implementation, special event design at the Art and Cultural Center, an art demonstration, a retrofit of equipment at the art studios and a junior wildlife exhibit.

The Live Oak Park Coalition, which did not receive any 2004-05 TOT funding, has requested $25,000 for the upcoming fiscal year. That money would be used to replace the roof on the park’s special events pavilion.

Rally for Children, which did not receive any Community Enhancement funding last year, has sought $10,000 in TOT revenue for 2005-06. That money would be used for the organization’s Arts in the Park program and for philanthropic financial grants to organizations which provide services and growth opportunities to children in Fallbrook and Bonsall.