Groups request TOT funds

The proposed 2015-16 County of San Diego budget includes $3,665,000 for the Community Enhancement program, and during a designated San Diego County Board of Supervisors hearing June 1-2 organizations explained their needs and plans for use of the money.

Each county supervisor has a $733,000 Community Enhancement budget and will decide how much of his or her budget will be given to each group requesting funds. Although the revenue is only from TOT money collected from lodging facilities in the unincorporated portion of the county, organizations in incorporated cities are also eligible for funding.

Most organizations will receive less than the amount they requested. The money is not based on the previous year's allocation, and there are no adverse consequences of asking for more money than will be granted.

Each county supervisor also has a discretionary Neighborhood Reinvestment Program budget, so some Community Enhancement requests can be fulfilled by that source. The county supervisors will begin deliberations on the budget, including the Community Enhancement allocations, June 23.

Last year the Bonsall Chamber of Commerce requested $71,500 and received $17,000. This year's $76,000 request covers $31,000 for website upgrades, advertising, and printing of a membership directory, $25,000 for a music festival to benefit the Gary Sinese Foundation which builds homes for local wounded veterans while also benefiting local businesses who participate in the vendor area, $15,000 for a copier and associated software to self-publish a quarterly directory and to hire the personnel to keep the chamber's website and social media updated, and $5,000 to print a directory of local businesses.

The Fallbrook Art Association requested $11,450 of 2014-15 funding and received $10,000. If the full $11,700 of the current request is granted, $10,000 would be used for two annual shows at the Fallbrook Art Center and two art shows at Brandon, $1,200 would be spent on demonstrations at the monthly general meetings which are open to the public, and $500 would initiate a digital entry option for art shows.

The 2014-15 process provided the Fallbrook Chamber of Commerce with $80,000 of its $155,000 request. This year the chamber seeks $149,000 which would fund $60,000 for the Avocado Festival, $35,000 for business seminars, $20,000 for Visitors' Center resources, $17,000 for the Christmas Parade and associated events, and $17,000 for cultural collaboration.

A $5,000 Fallbrook Gem and Mineral Society request last year resulted in a $4,000 grant. This year's $31,500 request would allow $9,000 for energy-efficient equipment, $7,500 to modify the museum and gift shop's electrical equipment, $6,500 to replace the air conditioning and heater, $6,500 to replace the commercial-grade carpet tiles, and $2,000 to replace the ducting in the meeting room.

The Fallbrook Historical Society, which did not seek Community Enhancement funding last year, would like $21,500 of this year's revenue allocation. Conversion of the "Ford Room" into a year-round meeting room with themed displays would account for $8,000 of that request, $7,000 would restore and repaint the Pittenger House exterior, $3,500 would upgrade the entry gate access, and $3,000 would install low-maintenance landscaping and reconfigure the irrigation system.

In 2014, the Fallbrook Land Conservancy Foundation requested $11,380 and received $10,000. This year's $10,000 request would cover $5,000 for Stage Coach Sunday activities, $4,650 for signs to attract tourists to preserves and trailheads, and $350 to purchase six power mechanism loopers to maintain trees in downtown Fallbrook.

The Fallbrook Music Society did not make a request for 2014-15 TOT money. The $30,000 sought for 2015-16 would provide for free concerts at the Fallbrook public library or the Bob Burton Performing Arts Center on the fourth Sunday of each month.

Last year, the Fallbrook Village Association did not ask for Community Enhancement funding. This year's $27,000 desired amount would enable expenditures of $7,000 to relocate the Farmer's Markets to the dual purpose area while allowing capital equipment purchased to be used for other events, $6,000 for the second phase of a plan which would provide dual use at the central parking area, $5,000 to attract additional vendors and have late afternoon hours in the dual purpose area, $5,000 for event information kiosks, and $4,000 for outdoor cleaning equipment which would be shared with other non-profit organizations.

An $8,000 request last year by the Friends of the Fallbrook Community Center resulted in a $3,000 grant. This year's the organization would like $23,000 to expand the annual holiday tree lighting event.

Last year, the Live Oak Park Coalition received $12,500 of its requested $21,000. The $25,000 desired for 2015-16 would allow $15,000 for the replacement of 13 exercise stations, $5,000 to maintain the trails system in the Santa Margarita Valley (the Fallbrook Trails Council is now part of the Live Oak Park Coalition), and $5,000 to maintain the Fallbrook Dog Park.

REINS (Riding Emphasizing Individual Needs and Strengths) received its full $10,000 request last year and seeks the same amount for 2015-16. The money would fund $5,000 for the therapy on horseback program and another $5,000 for a therapist consultation program.

Two greater Fallbrook organizations which received 2014-15 Community Enhancement funding did not seek TOT revenue this year. In 2014, the American Association of University Women's Fallbrook chapter requested $7,500 and received $3,000. Fallbrook Center for the Arts, Inc., received $30,000 of its $61,500 request last year.