Chamber seeks $89,500 from county

Of the county’s $3.6 million 2015-16 Community Enhancement budget, Ramona Chamber of Commerce wants $89,500, the Ramona Heart Mural project $37,920, and Ramona Pioneer Historical Society $19,500.

The requests to San Diego County supervisors came during hearings June 1 and 2, when organizations presented their proposals for the money.

Each of the county’s five supervisors has a $733,000 Community Enhancement budget and will decide how much of his or her budget will go to each group requesting funds. Although the revenue is only from Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) money collected from lodging facilities in the unincorporated portion of the county, organizations in incorporated cities also are eligible for funding.

Most organizations receive less than requested. Each county supervisor also has a discretionary Neighborhood Reinvestment Program budget, so some Community Enhancement requests can be fulfilled by that source.

The county supervisors will begin deliberations on the budget, including the Community Enhancement allocations, June 23.

Last year Ramona Chamber of Commerce requested $78,000 of TOT revenue and received $55,000. If the chamber receives its $89,500 for the 2-15-16 budget year beginning July 1, $55,000 would go to community events including the annual community awards gala, Open Artist Studio Tour, Ramona Country Fair, Oktoberfest, Safe Trick or Treat children’s walk, and Holiday Tree Lighting festivities; $15,000 would be used for an agritourism marketing campaign, $12,000 would fund maps and other materials to promote Ramona to tourists, $4,000 would help fund a business director and training programs for businesses, and $3,500 would sponsor The Table collaboration activities.

Ramona Heart Mural Project Corporation received the entirety of its $15,000 request last year. This year the organization asks for $15,300 for a mural on the wall of Ramona Performance Auto at 1936 Main St. that would depict the 1960s San Diego Raceway, $13,500 for a mural on the 716 Main St. building that would reproduce the July 4, 1914, horse racing photograph, and $9,120 for a mural at 1905 Main St. with a subject to be identified.

In 2014, Ramona Pioneer Historical Society, which operates and maintains the Guy B. Woodward Museum at 645 Main St., requested and received $15,000. The $19,500 sought for 2015-16 would allow $12,000 for an operations director, $5,000 for non-salary operations and maintenance expenses, and $2,500 to replace the humidifier and purchase archival boxes and storage material to help preserve clothing and accessories.