Jeffries said needed upgrades include upgraded HVAC systems, new roofs and ox barns. Other projects would include upgrades to asphalt, electricity and the Internet.

He said an increase in the mill tax is an effort to make the fairgrounds more attractive, which benefits the region.

Currently, homeowners pay $ 2 for every $ 100,000 of assessment. For someone with an appraisal of $ 200,000, they pay $ 4. An owner with an appraisal of $ 300,000 would pay $ 6.

If the county commission approves the increased levy, an owner with an appraisal of $ 200,000 would pay $ 9.80 and an appraisal of $ 300,000 would pay $ 14.70 to the county fair fund. Jefferies said $ 250,000 of the projected $ 500,000 in new tax revenue would go towards general maintenance, while the remainder would go to capital projects.

Jeffries said the roughly $ 192,000 expected from taxpayers for this fiscal year is known as the “paints, boards and nails” fund. They hire around 200 seasonal workers for the fair, which includes some groups who work at the gates or at the bailiff.

Central States Fair spends around $ 1 million per year to maintain the property, which comes from event revenue. He said other funding comes from partnerships with sponsors in the community.