Saline County Livestock and Expo Center to raise rental prices due to inflation

After a year of inflation on goods and overall rising costs, the Saline County Livestock and Expo Center will raise its prices next year.

The Expo Center, which oversees several buildings available for event reservations, is led by director David Flaherty II. At the weekly county commission meeting Dec. 13, he explained the rise in rental fees is due to higher costs for things like maintenance and utilities.

“At this time, in 2022, it’s due to rising utility costs and after some improvements have been made and comparing costs with other facilities,” Flaherty said.

After Flaherty presented the new fee schedule, the commissioners discussed cost-effective measures for the county-owned entity. The discussion centered around ways to generate additional revenue, but were limited to brief talking points when the commission approved the Expo Center’s fee schedule as presented Tuesday.

In the 4-1 tally, Commissioner Bob Vidricksen was the sole no vote.

Rental prices at Expo Center to increase next year

Each building will see an increased rental price; some will see its first since 2011. Costs for barns one and two will raise 25% and barns three, five and six will increase 100%, 92% and 32%, respectively. These go into effect in January.

A non-refundable $150 administrative fee will be applied toward all building reservations next year. It's needed because some people have booked events years in advance and canceled at the last minute for a variety of circumstances, Flaherty said.

In the past, the Expo Center was granting charity and community organizations 50% off the cost of rentals, but in the new fee schedule that rate is bumped down to just 35% off.

Commissioner Bob Vidricksen shared a few concerns with the fee schedule as presented Tuesday.

“David, I want to commend you for being proactive on this and finally taking a look at these fee schedules,” Vidricksen said. “I do have a question regarding — why do we graduate the price down if they rent it for more than one time? Why would we do that?”

Flaherty explained it is to incentivize events to return to the Expo Center in the future. The new fee schedule adopts a practice used in the former rates that include one price for single-day use and another for several events throughout the year.

In the case of the 4-H building, the eight-hour single day cost to rent will be $800 in 2023, but if the entity were to reserve the space for three or more events throughout the year, the rate would drop to $400 per event.

“I just don’t agree with it,” Vidricksen said. “I think we should have a price per day and that’s the way it is. Particularly, outside agencies or businesses are going over there and using our facilities for a … profit situation.”

While sharing their concerns, the commission collectively recognized Flaherty for the Expo Center’s ability to bring events to the county. But they disagreed on whether non-local charitable organizations should be given a discount on facility rentals.

“One thing that I don’t want to lose sight on is that it is a facility for the community to help with community growth,” Commissioner James Weese said.

The Expo Center also serves as a face of agriculture in the county, bringing in several ag events throughout the year. The Salina Journal previously reported that with the help of Tony’s Pizza Events Center, the Expo Center entered a five-year contract with EquiFest of Kansas, which guarantees one of the largest trade shows in the Midwest a home in Salina for at least the next half decade.

More:Saline County Livestock Expo Center looks to expand shows, upgrade

Historically, though, the Expo Center has not brought in a significant revenue stream for the county. It budgeted for more expenditures than revenues this year, a line item that has remained consistent.

“This is taxpayer subsidized, and Saline County taxpayer subsidized,” Commissioner Monte Shadwick said in response to Weese on Tuesday. “Taking your argument, which is legitimate and a good point, then everybody should get the discount, whether they’re nonprofit or not, if they’re bringing money to Saline County.”

Flaherty collaborated with Salina Area Chamber of Commerce staff this year to conduct an economic study on the local impact of events at Expo Center facilities. The smallest nonprofit horse show generated a minimum estimated economic impact of $60,000.

A cattle show brought in just under $600,000 in local economic impact and EquiFest brought in about $1.1 million.

Overall, the increase in rental prices for next year should generate additional revenue for the county to cover increased costs, Flaherty said.

“I just want to commend you and thank you for bringing in the different shows and everything you do to help the community help bring in more money,” Commissioner Roger Sparks said to Flaherty. “The more you bring in … the whole community benefits from it.”

This article originally appeared on Salina Journal: Saline County approves higher rental fees at Livestock Expo Center