Rental fees at the Park County Fairgrounds are rising, in some cases as much as double previous rates.

Events manager Billy Wood said the rate hikes, which he was tasked with looking into, are a way to both bring in some more money, while also making it so the county isn’t undercutting private facilities quite as much.

“I’m not sure we want to be undermining our local businesses because a lot of them, they’re charging $35 an hour, and we’re charging $35 for 24 hours,” he said.

Wood had initially brought suggested rate hikes earlier in the fall, but commissioners asked him to do more digging into comparable area places. Wood wound up suggesting mostly lower hikes than before, and said he understood the need to balance the discrepancy with private business rates with the fact that the county is a public entity using tax dollars.

He also said the new structure would still allow the same exceptions or reductions to the fees for certain groups such as nonprofits.

While many of the rental rates are rising around 50%-75% (such as rental of Heart Mountain Hall and kitchen rising from $400-$650 per day) commission chair Dossie Overfield said her only concern was with the 100% hike of the grandstand arena from $350 to $700.

“That’s quite a change,” she said.

Wood said there are only a few organizations, such as the group that puts on Figure 8 races, planning to use the grandstand arena next year, and they have made good profits in the past and thus can well afford the increase.

The commissioners approved all of the rent changes as well as some other wording changes to rental agreements, including a ban on glitter and confetti, which Wood said is nearly impossible to clean up.

Facility rents

(Was — Now)

Heart Mountain Hall (only) — $225 — $350

Heart Mountain kitchen (only) — $200 — $350

Heart Mountain Hall and kitchen — $400 — $650

Entire Heart Mountain center — $500 — $800

Heart Mountain meeting rooms (both) — $80 — $150

Heart Mountain large meeting room — $50 — $80

Heart Mountain small meeting room — $35 — $65

Homesteader Hall (only) — $125 — $200

Homesteader kitchen (only) — $35 — $65

Homesteader Hall and kitchen — $150 — $250

Homesteader meeting room — $35 — $65

Grandstand Arena — $350 — $700

Pavilion — $100 — $150

Horse arenas (three) — $100 — $175

Outside barns (excluding beef barn) each — $100 — $150

Entire fairgrounds (lots and halls) — $800 — $1,250

The green by the pavilion — $60 — $100

Grassy field next to events office — $85 — $150

Park County Complex — $60 — $100