Organizations given TOT funding

Fallbrook and Bonsall organizations were among those receiving fiscal year 2018-19 Community Enhancement grants funded by the County of San Diego's Transient Occupancy Tax revenue.

The Community Enhancement allocations were part of the 2018-19 budget process and were thus finalized June 26 when the San Diego County Board of Supervisors approved the county's newest budget. Each county supervisor provided his or her recommendations for their Community Enhancement budget of $1,243,728, not including returned funds from 2017-18 awards.

Supervisor Bill Horn had $1,246,295 to distribute to Fifth District or multiple-district groups. Although the revenue is only from Transient Occupancy Tax money collected from lodging facilities in the unincorporated portion of the county, organizations in incorporated cities are also eligible for funding.

Most organizations received 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 $2 million discretionary Neighborhood Reinvestment Program budget, so some Community Enhancement requests can be fulfilled by that source.

The applications include a brief explanation of where the money will be spent, and if less than the full amount is awarded all of those listed activities are still eligible expenses regardless of whether the organization spends the full amount sought for an activity or part of that desired subtotal.

The Bonsall Chamber of Commerce received $23,185 out of the chamber's $24,000 request which called for spending of $8,000 to direct tourists and potential residents to community resources, $5,000 for a printed business directory, $5,000 for a music festival, $4,000 for a community festival to promote local businesses and tourism, and $2,000 for monthly events. The chamber received $20,000 last year.

The Fallbrook Art Association, which sought $13,000, was allocated $10,387. The organization planned to use $9,500 for four art shows, $2,500 for workshops, and $1,000 for two art shows to celebrate the Fallbrook Art Association's 50th anniversary. Last year the Fallbrook Art Association was awarded $12,700 of Community Enhancement funding.

The Fallbrook Beautification Alliance, which did not seek 2017-18 funding, asked for $20,000 of 2018-19 TOT revenue and will have $17,445.50 from that source. The full amount would have allowed $10,000 for graffiti removal, $7,000 for repair and maintenance of South Mission Road medians, and $3,000 to replace flower pots in Downtown Fallbrook.

The 2018-19 budget for Fallbrook Center for the Arts, Inc., will include $20,000 of Community Enhancement revenue. The arts center requested $50,000 and proposed expenditures of $20,000 for printing mailers, brochures, stationary, fliers, print and on-line advertising, postage, distribution, window displays, and Website design and maintenance, $15,000 for ceramics classes, and $15,000 to help pay electricity costs for the light-emitting diode illumination designed for art galleries. Last year Fallbrook Center for the Arts also received $20,000.

The $110,000 allocated to the Fallbrook Chamber of Commerce is a decrease from the chamber's $120,000 TOT revenue during 2017-18 as well as from the $187,000 amount of the 2018-19 application. The full desired amount would have enabled the chamber to spend $60,000 on the Avocado Festival, $35,000 for the visitor center, $30,000 to provide business seminars and other business education services, $22,000 on a tourist destination branding program, and $20,000 for a month-long celebration including the Artisan Fair, the Christmas Parade, window displays and lights, and the tree lighting.

The first-ever Community Enhancement grant to Fallbrook Child Development Center, Inc., is for $5,000. The $30,010 desired would have funded $18,250 to replace the roof on the main building, $9,000 for staff workshops and college classes, and $2,760 for a security system to monitor the playground when it is locked after hours and on weekends.

The Fallbrook Gem and Mineral Society application asked for $35,000 to make the museum the first Smithsonian Affiliate in North County and was given $8,000. Smithsonian Affiliate status would require digitizing the museum's assets, upgrading displays, installing LED illumination, and creating interactive exhibits. Last year the Fallbrook Gem and Mineral Society was given $10,000.

The Fallbrook Healthcare Foundation, which did not request 2017-18 TOT revenue, will have $10,000 for 2018-19 which can be spent on Care Advocate interns. The foundation submitted an application for $39,763 of funding.

The Fallbrook Historical Society will receive $8,000. The $20,000 requested would have funded $17,000 to rearrange museum displays to create more interactive displays and to tell Fallbrook's story in chronological order and $3,000 to redesign the website including updated equipment and software and to continue verbal history recordings. The Fallbrook Historical Society was awarded $10,000 of 2017-18 Community Enhancement money.

The $8,000 which will be given to the Fallbrook Land Conservancy Foundation was less than the $10,500 desired which would have covered $4,500 for the Stage Coach Sunday event, $2,000 for trails road repair materials and brush clearing equipment, $2,000 for plants, trees, bench supplies, and tools for the Downtown Fallbrook area, and $2,000 to purchase native plants and trees for the conservancy's one-acre garden. The foundation's 2017-18 budget did not include a Community Enhancement grant.

The Fallbrook Music Society sought $12,500, which was the amount the organization received last year, and was given $10,000. The funding will support the free Classical Sundays concert series at Fallbrook's library branch.

The initial Community Enhancement grant for Fallbrook Skatepark, Inc., will be for $12,500. The group submitted a $30,000 request to fund $15,000 for a community event, $10,000 for outreach, and $5,000 for a fundraising golf tournament.

The Fallbrook Village Association was given $15,000 of the association's $50,000 request although the previous week's Neighborhood Reinvestment Program allocations provided another $38,000 to the organization. The full requested amount covered $30,000 for Railroad Heritage Park displays and $20,000 for Downtown Fallbrook special events including music and other entertainment. Community Enhancement funding provided $29,000 to the Fallbrook Village Association during 2017-18.

Friends of the Fallbrook Community Center received $15,000 which matches last year's award but is less than the $20,000 application amount. The funding will be used for the holiday celebration including the tree lighting at the Fallbrook Community Center.

The Live Oak Park Coalition obtained $19,819 of its desired $25,000 which would have funded $20,000 for the trails system and $5,000 for the off-leash dog park. Last year's grant was for $15,000.

The $47,000 application submitted by Riding Emphasizing Individual Needs and Strengths resulted in a $15,000 grant, which is also what REINS received for 2017-18. The application allows the therapeutic riding organization to spend $15,000 for the REINS Country Hoedown, $15,000 for the volunteer program, $10,000 for the Horses, Hat, and Hope community event in conjunction with the Foundation for Senior Care, $5,000 for the Spring Hop, and $2,000 for the annual Day at the Races event at the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club track.