Eleven local groups receive TOT funding

Eleven greater Fallbrook organizations will be receiving Community Enhancement funding from the County of San Diego for Fiscal Year 2013-14.

The San Diego County Board of Supervisors voted 5-0 June 25 to adopt the county’s 2013-14 budget, including the distribution of Supervisor Bill Horn’s $536,000 Community Enhancement budget. Although only Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) revenue derived from lodging facilities in unincorporated San Diego County funds the Community Enhancement program, organizations in incorporated cities are also eligible for grants.

Each county supervisor also has a $1 million discretionary Neighborhood Reinvestment Program budget, so some Community Enhancement requests may be fulfilled from that source.

The Bonsall Chamber of Commerce received $15,000 of its $38,500 request. The chamber will use the money for expanding the chamber’s website, use of social media to attract visitors, and use of electronic communications to promote local commercial activities. The chamber received $8,000 of Transient Occupancy Tax revenue for 2012-13.

The $3,000 the Camp Pendleton Historical Society was allocated matches its 2012-13 grant amount although not its requested $10,000. The historical society will utilize $2,000 for an intern to assist in cataloguing and archiving historical material and $1,000 towards an administrative assistant contractor position.

The Fallbrook Art Association requested $14,700 and was given $10,250, which is a slight increase over last year’s $10,000. The association will spend $10,000 of the money for a spring open juried show and a fall judged show and $250 towards rent and utilities for a Scarecrow Factory storefront.

Fallbrook Center of the Arts, Inc., sought $45,000 and was provided with $20,500. The grant will be used for postcards, brochures, stationery, flyers, media advertising, postage, distribution services, window displays, signage, website design, and website maintenance. The former Fallbrook Village Association received $19,280 in 2012.

The Fallbrook Chamber of Commerce obtained the same $60,000 amount it received last year. The chamber, which asked for $155,000, will use the money for expenses associated with the 28th annual Avocado Festival.

The Fallbrook Gem and Mineral Society received $3,250 of its $5,000 request for carpet replacement in all areas of the building used by the public including the meeting room, the museum, and the offices. The society was given $3,000 last year.

The Fallbrook Healthcare Foundation, which did not seek TOT revenue last year, was allocated $3,500 of its $23,444 request for 2013-14. The foundation will apply $2,144 towards the salary of a full-time care van driver to transport seniors and the disabled. The other $1,356 will install five concrete ballasters in front of the Adult Day Care Center to prevent vehicles from running into the building and injuring clients or staff.

The Fallbrook Land Conservancy was allocated $7,922 of the $9,680 sought. The program to clear trails and fire roads in the Santa Margarita Rivershed will utilize $3,150 to pay for 14 days of Rainbow/CalFire crews and $600 to purchase a new chain saw. Stage Coach Sunday activities will have $3,000 in funding. The FLC will spend $962 for materials for the Walkabout Web Trail. The remaining $210 will purchase a 1,000-watt generator which will provide power for pole saws used in pruning trees on Downtown Fallbrook streets. Last year the conservancy received $8,000 of TOT funding.

Although the Fallbrook Music Society did not receive its entire $15,000 request, the $8,500 grant to help cover costs of the Symphony Pops on the Green event is an increase from last year’s $8,000.

The Live Oak Park Coalition’s $21,000 request to purchase and install a shared structure for the children’s playground equipment resulted in a $10,000 grant. Last year the coalition received no Community Enhancement funding.

REINS (Riding Emphasizing Individual Needs and Strengths) asked for $15,000 for horseback therapy programs and received $10,000. REINS obtained $6,000 of 2012-13 TOT allocations.