Groups awarded Community Enhancement funds

The Bonsall Chamber of Commerce and eight Fallbrook groups will receive Community Enhancement funds from the County of San Diego during Fiscal Year 2006-07.

The Board of Supervisors approved the county’s 2006-07 budget on June 20, including the Community Enhancement allocations. Each county supervisor received $600,000 of Community Enhancement funds for his or her district and made recommendations for the allocations which were approved by the entire board during the budget process.

Community Enhancement funds, which are derived from the Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) revenue received by the county, are intended to be used for activities which draw visitors to San Diego County or generate economic activity. Although the revenue is only from TOT money collected from lodging facilities in the unincorporated portion of the county, organizations in incorporated cities are eligible for funding. Most organizations received less than the amount they requested, and the allocation to a specific group is not necessarily related to the previous year’s allocation.

The Bonsall Chamber of Commerce, which received $6,000 of Community Enhancement funds for Fiscal Year 2005-06, will receive that same amount for 2006-07. The chamber, which had requested $21,000 of Fiscal Year 2006-07 funding, plans to use the funding for a director, a chili festival, a business expo, a Country Faire, a clean-up day, and maintenance of the chamber’s Web site.

The Fallbrook Art Association will receive the entirety of its $10,000 request, which equals the 2005-06 amount the organization received. The association will spend $4,000 on art shows, $2,800 on festivals, $2,000 on workshops, and $1,200 on demonstrations.

The Fallbrook Chamber of Commerce was awarded $85,000 of Fiscal Year 2006-07 after requesting $273,795 for tourist information, tourist attractions such as the Avocado Festival and the Christmas Parade, economic development activities, and Internet activities. The chamber had received $75,000 of Fiscal Year 2005-06 Community Enhancement funds.

The Fallbrook Gem and Mineral Society received $3,000 for 2005-06 and will receive an identical amount in 2006-07 after requesting $5,000. That money will be used for signage to direct visitors to the museum, new brochures, and collections storage.

The Fallbrook Historical Society Museum will receive the same $8,000 amount in 2006-07 as it did in 2005-06. The museum had sought $15,000 for electronically operated entry gates, displays, and an air conditioner and dehumidifier in the exhibit area to stop a major mildew problem.

The Fallbrook Land Conservancy Foundation, which received $8,000 of 2005-06 TOT revenue, was awarded the entirety of its $10,000 request for 2006-07. The money will be used for the Tails and Trails program, Stagecoach Sunday activities, the Firescape Garden maintained by the FLC (which is the second-largest firescape garden in the state), and improving the Santa Margarita Park and trails, including signage for area trails.

The Fallbrook Music Society will receive its full $8,000 request, matching its 2005-06 award. That money will fund the Lucerne Festival concert and three 45-minute concerts for youth.

The Fallbrook Village Association received $45,000 of its $75,000 request. The FVA, which received $35,000 during 2005-06, sought the money for art studios, art demonstration retrofits, festivals, art shows and the Junior Wildlife Show, special event design at the Art and Cultural Center, and the Fallbrook Area Tourist Bureau.

The Live Oak Park Coalition requested $22,000 and will receive the same $5,000 as the coalition did in 2005-06. That money will help replace the bridge which allows visitors access to the west entrance of the park, which is a county-owned public park but is maintained by the non-profit Live Oak Park Coalition.

Supervisors have two discretionary sources of funds; in addition to the Community Enhancement funds each supervisor also has a Community Projects budget which may be used for schools and non-profit organizations which provide services to county citizens and can also be used to supplement other county funding for specific county projects. Four Fallbrook organizations which had requested TOT revenue did not receive Community Enhancement funds which target economic development and tourism but were invited to seek Community Projects funds for their needs.

Fallbrook/Bonsall Rally for Children was the only one of those four groups which received 2005-06 Community Enhancement funding. That organization received $3,000 of 2005-06 funds and requested $20,000 for 2006-07 for its for its Arts in the Park festival and its Art in Bloom activity.

The Fallbrook Food Pantry, the Reche Community Club, and REINS (Riding Emphasizing Individual Needs and Strengths) did not receive any 2005-06 Community Enhancement funds. The Fallbrook Food Pantry sought $6,800 for a camera and software for client ID cards and to replace the existing 12-year-old flooring at its facility with new flooring. The Reche Community Club requested $6,000 to coat the driveway and parking area. REINS requested $10,000 for 2006-07 for community outreach including production of a professional-quality video about the REINS programs for presentations at community organizations and for a bus shuttle service to allow off-site parking for its annual Country Hoedown fundraiser.