Greater Fallbrook groups allocated TOT funds

The San Diego County Board of Supervisors voted 5-0, June 25, to approve the county’s 2019-2020 budget, which included the allocation of community enhancement funds from the county’s transient occupancy tax revenue. Thirteen Greater Fallbrook organizations will receive grants from the community enhancement program.

Supervisor Jim Desmond had a $1,135,080 community enhancement budget and made recommendations on how much of his budget would be given to each group requesting funds. The recommendations were ratified by the board of supervisors during the approval of the budget.

Although the revenue is derived 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. Each county supervisor also has a $2 million discretionary neighborhood reinvestment program budget, so some community enhancement requests can be fulfilled by that source. Most organizations received less than the amount they requested, and the money is not based on the previous year’s allocation.

The Bonsall Chamber of Commerce will receive its entire $20,000 request. The chamber will spend $12,000 on chamber office expenses including responding to and directing tourists and potential new residents to community resources, $6,000 for Local Events and $2,000 for a printed version of the Bonsall Chamber of Commerce membership directory.

The Fallbrook Art Association requested $23,000 and was awarded $10,000. The money will be used for art shows, artist workshops, children’s art workshops and for a fundraising gala associated with the organization’s 50th anniversary.

Fallbrook Center for the Arts received $20,000 of its $55,000 request. The grant will fund materials printing and postage expenses, window displays, website enhancements, light-emitting diode illumination and art supplies for the Junior Wildlife Art Show and adult ceramics classes.

The Fallbrook Chamber of Commerce obtained $120,000 of its $140,000 request. Money will be used for the Avocado Festival, the chamber’s market destination branding program, the visitors’ center and business seminars.

The $163,500 request from the Fallbrook Gem and Mineral Society resulted in a $10,000 allocation. The museum acquired the adjacent lot to develop a children’s discovery center and funding may be used for that facility's infrastructure and educational needs. Money may also be used to improve the museum to Smithsonian Affiliate Museum status.

The Fallbrook Historical Society was given $10,000 of its $21,000 request. The money will be spent on museum displays.

The Fallbrook Land Conservancy Foundation requested $15,000 and was allocated $10,000. The revenue will fund the Stage Coach Sunday event, purchase of plants and trees for Downtown Fallbrook along with the purchase of bench supplies and equipment, purchase of native plants and trees for the habitat garden and erosion control and trails improvement at Monserate Mountain Preserve.

The Fallbrook Music Society will receive $10,000 of its $12,500 request. The money will subsidize the Classical Sundays concert series. An additional $2,000 grant was given to Westwind Brass Inc., which will hold a public concert in collaboration with the Fallbrook Music Society.

The Fallbrook Senior Citizens Service Club sought $77,000 and was given $14,000. Eligible uses to improve the Fallbrook Senior Center include new flooring, painting and individual heating and air conditioning control in each room.

Fallbrook Skatepark Inc. will be given $8,000 of the organization's $30,000 request. The funding will be used for a semi-annual event.

The $35,000 Live Oak Park Coalition request resulted in a $10,000 allocation. Potential expenditures include repair and maintenance of the trail system, new signage, refurbishment of wood chips in the off-leash dog park area and new soccer nets.

Riding Emphasizing Individual Needs and Strengths, the REINS Therapeutic Horsemanship Program, will obtain $10,000 of the $52,000 the nonprofit requested. The grant will help fund the Spring Hop event, a fundraiser during the Del Thoroughbred Club summer meet; the Horses, Hats and Hope fundraiser associated with the Kentucky Derby and volunteer outreach.

Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1924 submitted a request for $40,000 and was given $10,000. The money will help fund the repair of an existing parking area which has deteriorated and the refurbishment of the post’s patio area which will allow more usable meeting space both for the post and for other area nonprofit organizations.