Angels Camp, CA — Financial woes have forced the Fair´s Board of Directors to make some drastic cuts Wednesday afternoon.
According to General Manager Ray Malerbi, four front-office personnel will lose their jobs. Only Malerbi and the Facility Marketing Director Laurie Giannini will remain on the annual payroll. Malerbi stated that it´s the most difficult decision that has ever been made in Fair history.
Malerbi cited a number of issues that created this dilemma. Due to “poor accounting and poor followthrough,” there was a six figure deficit that may have dated back to 2000 or earlier that had not even been discovered by the Fair´s oversight agency, the Division of Fairs and Expositions which is operated by the Department of Agriculture.
Malerbi added that the Friday evening YoYo ride accident played a major role in the Fair adding another $140,000 to $200,000 to the debt factor this year. 23 passengers were injured, but all were released by the close of the weekend. State authorities immediately closed the entire carnival section until Sunday.
Included in the Fair indebtedness this year; $28,000 in refunds to those who had purchased carnival tickets.
The Board vote was 6-1 with Victoria Erickson the lone dissenter.
Written by Bill Johnson
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