Fair site goes up for sale

The Orange County Fairgrounds is now up for sale.

In one sleepless 36-hour stretch in Sacramento, state legislators passed more than 30 bills to balance the budget. Among them, a bill authorizing the state to sell the Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa, which the governor has estimated is worth between $96 million and $180 million.

An exhausted Assemblyman Van Tran came out of the marathon session confident with the vote.

“I think ultimately it will be better for the community. It will stay as a fairground. There’s no doubt about that,” said Tran who voted for the sale. “It was pretty much unanimous.”

The Orange County Fair board and state legislators agree that a local nonprofit that would keep land as fairgrounds is a necessity.

“This is something we’ve been supportive of,” said David Ellis, a fair board member. “We think it’s better for the long-term health of the state and Southern California community.”

While the fairgrounds are state property, it didn’t sound like anyone commenting on the late-night decision viewed it as such.

“We’re really an entertainment venue,” Ellis said.

The fair is not funded by tax dollars and can only spend what its revenue allows. However, it’s still subject to state laws and selling it would be a tax-deductible profit for California.

“The property would remain a fairground, just with a different owner,” said Sen. Tom Harman, who voted for the sale. “I don’t see any problem with allowing the governor and Department of General Services to look into selling the property as there is really no reason for the state to own it.”

Assemblyman Chuck DeVore also voted to sell the fairgrounds.