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Ten Alpine and Back Country
groups receive TOT funds
By Joe Naiman
The Alpine Sun
SAN DIEGO — The passage of the County
of San Diego's 2009-10 budget included the allocation of
Community Enhancement funds from the County of San Diego's
Transient Occupancy Tax revenue, and ten Alpine and Back Country
groups will receive money from the Community Enhancement
program.
Each county supervisor has a $700,000 Community
Enhancement budget and made recommendations on how much of his
or her budget will be given to each group requesting funds. The
recommendations were then ratified by the entire San Diego
County Board of Supervisors during the approval of the budget.
Although the revenue is derived only from TOT money collected
from lodging facilities in the unincorporated portion of the
county, organizations in incorporated cities are also eligible
for funding.
Most organizations received less than the amount they
requested, and the money is not based on the previous year's
allocation. Each county supervisor also has a $2 million
discretionary Community Projects budget, so some Community
Enhancement requests can be fulfilled by that source.
The Alpine Chamber of Commerce, which was allocated
$47,000 last year, will receive $50,000 of its $65,000 request
for 2009-10 Community Enhancement funds. The money will be used
to promote tourism and economic development of Alpine and of
Mountain Empire communities.
The Alpine Historical and Conservation Society sought
$7,000 and was granted $6,000, matching its 2008-09 allocation.
The society will spend $3,000 of the revenue to repair
the wall of the Dr. Nichols' house and for eaves and fascia
repair of the Beaty House, $2,000 to waterproof the barn's roof,
walls, and doors, repair the floor, and install electrical
wiring and a security system, $1,000 to purchase "Past Perfect"
software for the inventory of its archives, and $1,000 to trim
eucalyptus trees, expand the sprinkler systems, and plant
flowers and shrubs.
The Alpine Women's Club, which received $10,000 last
year, was allocated the entirety of its $20,000 request for
2009-10 funds. The organization will use $15,000 of that money
to build a first-floor bathroom compliant with Americans with
Disabilities Act standards and $5,000 to trim eucalyptus trees
on the grounds.
The Back Country Land Trust of San Diego County
received $2,000 last year and asked for $2,000 of 2009-10 funds.
The land trust was allocated $1,000 to complete an archeological
survey of Spanish and Mexican stone constructions and pre-Anglo
adobe stone building foundations.
CHIRP for Garden Wildlife, Inc., asked for $25,000 and
will receive the same $5,000 amount it obtained for 2008-09. The
13th annual Alpine Sage and Songbirds Festival will consume
$3,500 of that funding while $1,500 will be used for ongoing
maintenance of the garden at the Alpine Post Office.
The Historic Highway 80 Corporation's $15,000 grant
matches its 2008-09 amount while falling short of the group's
$25,000 request. The funding will be used to promote economic
development by reprinting a travel guide and map, to enhance the
Web site and develop an electronic newsletter, and for signage
and banners, special events, murals, a membership drive, and
group presentations.
The Jamul Arts and Music Council, which obtained $4,300
last year, will be provided with the entirety of its $5,000
request. The TOT money will be used for the Painted Pony Arts
Festival, which includes locally-produced art, hands-on
children's activities, concerts, and a painted live horses
competition.
The Motor Transport Museum, which received $6,000 last
year, asked for $9,600 of 2009-10 funds and was granted that
amount. The museum will use $3,200 to install a paved
handicapped parking area, $2,500 to purchase cameras and
hardware for a yard security system, $2,000 for a fire system to
protect archival materials and memorabilia, and $1,900 to
purchase descriptive signs for the museum's vehicles.
The $10,000 granted to the Mountain Empire Historical
Society matches both the request and the 2008-09 amount. The
historical society will spend $2,800 of that money to acquire
and upgrade preservation and conservation materials for
artifacts and document collections, $2,200 to upgrade the Hinds
Gallery of Military History and Lockett signage, $2,000 for
research on Back Country cemeteries and other internment sites
and early Army telegraph use, $2,000 for materials and process
support for publications, and $1,000 to participate in
cooperative events and outreach presentations.
The Pacific Southwest Railway Museum, which received
$5,000 last year, was allocated $10,500 of its 2009-10 request.
The funding will cover $7,500 for the roof replacement of the
Campo Depot and $3,000 to convert a portion of the existing shop
floors to a concrete surface.
Lions, Tigers, and Bears did not receive Community
Enhancement funding. The shelter had requested $65,000 to
enhance its educational facility and $10,000 to develop rack
cards, brochures, a short video, and new Web links.
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