2-132. County free fair; petition and election; purchase of grounds; tax levy, use of proceeds; admission to fair. Whenever, in the opinion of the board of county commissioners of any county in this state, the agricultural and industrial interests of such county can be advanced by the establishment and maintenance of a county-owned and operated free fair, and a petition to the same effect, signed by 60% of the landowners of such county, is presented to the board of county commissioners therefor, it shall be the duty of the board of county commissioners to call an election to submit to the voters a proposition to purchase a fairground, and if a majority of the votes cast on that proposition shall be favorable to such purchase it shall be the duty of the board of county commissioners to purchase such grounds. In any county which has established a free fair under this section and in which there is no officially recognized county fair association, such county free fair shall be recognized as the official county fair of such county if the board of county commissioners shall have first determined that the county within which such county free fair is located: (1) Has fairgrounds, or fairgrounds and buildings combined, with an appraised value of at least $5,000; (2) has conformed to adequate standards for a "fair" as defined in K.S.A. 2-125, and amendments thereto; and (3) has paid premiums and awards for exhibitors and contestants of at least $2,000 annually for the two consecutive years last preceding. Nothing in this act shall prevent the board of county commissioners of any county in Kansas from receiving and accepting as a gift, lands to be used as a fairground except that where the board of county commissioners of any county in Kansas has received and accepted lands for uses of fairgrounds as a gift from a fair association organized under the provisions of K.S.A. 2-127 and 2-128, and amendments thereto, and such fair association at the time of such gift had official recognition as an official county fair association, the board of county commissioners of such county may make an annual tax levy on the equalized assessed valuation of all tangible property in said county in an amount which will produce at least $2,000 and at least such amount shall be spent by such county for premiums and awards for exhibitors and contestants at such county free fair if there are exhibitors and contestants qualifying for such premiums and awards. When any county has purchased a fairground as provided herein, or when any county has provided a suitable fairground, either by lease, devise or otherwise, the board of county commissioners shall annually at the time set by law for making levies, levy a tax for the erection, maintenance, upkeep and repair of the equipment, buildings and improvements thereon, the care of the grounds, the payment of premiums and awards, the actual expense of operating the fair, and retiring any indebtedness on lands received through gift, devise or purchase and to pay a portion of the principal and interest on bonds issued under the authority of K.S.A. 12-1774, and amendments thereto, by cities located in the county but no part of such levy shall be used for the expense of purses and compensation for all purely entertainment features and racing. No charge shall be made for access and admission entrance to exhibits competing for premiums at any fair operating under the provisions of this section and K.S.A. 2-133, and amendments thereto. Recognition of any such county free fair, as an official county fair, may be forfeited by the board of county commissioners for failure to comply with this act or for failure to pay at least $2,000 each year, in premiums and awards for exhibitors and contestants.

History: L. 1929, ch. 1, § 8; L. 1935, ch. 2, § 3; L. 1951, ch. 4, § 1; L. 1953, ch. 3, § 1; L. 1957, ch. 3, § 1; L. 1975, ch. 162, § 2; L. 1979, ch. 52, § 18; L. 2004, ch. 101, § 8; L. 2013, ch. 71, § 8; July 1.