Legislature voting to supply state funding for fairgrounds relocation
CBS 13's April Hettinger investigates the budget proposal that the legislature will vote on Wednesday
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - The Yuma County Fairgrounds is in close proximity to the Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Yuma, posing a serious risk to the community if an aircraft were to go down.
MCAS and the Yuma County Fairgrounds have been neighbors for nearly eight decades. The county is working toward finding enough funding for this multi-million dollar project.
Rep. Tim Dunn (R) of District 13 that serves Yuma County, took the matter to the legislative level, requesting funding for this $5 million move.
"[Tuesday], we're doing appropriation hearings," Rep. Dunn said. "I just got done testifying for that for the appropriations for the budget. I will be doing the caususing these bills this afternoon and then we'll be doing the voting on them [Wednesday]."
Eric Wofford, general manager of the Yuma County Fairgrounds says it would be a huge stepping stone if the state supported the budget.
"I want to thank, again, the governor's office, the governor and the legislators that are supporting the line item in the budget that's hopefully going to pass," Wofford stated.
The new commander of MCAS Yuma is hoping to expand military aircraft in the next few years only making the fairgrounds more at risk.
"They're wanting to put more F-35s here, more squadrons, and they see the fairgrounds location as a problem," Rep. Dunn explained.
The move has been in the works since 2016, but it's going to take more than just the state's support for funding.
"It's a collaborative effort between the city and the county, the Yuma County Fairgrounds, MCAS, I believe, Yuma 50, all the partners that we've had, the airport authority, the partners that we have to keep moving forward and looking for that other funding source," Wofford lists.
The legislature will make a final decision on the $5 million project Wednesday. Congressman Paul Gosar is also turning to the federal level for funding.
