"Senate Majority Floor Leader Dan Kelly (R-Springfield) said today that he does not believe it will be necessary for Governor Fletcher to call the legislature back into special session to appropriate funding for a permanent outdoor arena at the Kentucky Horse Park.
Organizers of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games 2010 say time is tight to get the stadium planned, designed and built soon enough to allow the FEI to conduct its requisite testing procedures prior to the Games.
Fletcher requested that the General Assembly, currently in an off-year non-budgetary session, approve $24 million in bonds for an outdoor stadium with 10,000 permanent seats, expandable to 30,000 with temporary seating, and $4 million in bonds to enhance an already approved indoor arena. He also asked for $10 million from the state road fund to rebuild the park's antiquated road system. In making the announcement at the annual Commerce Lexington dinner in January, Fletcher stated that he would consider calling a special session if the legislature failed to approve the funds.
Kelly, however, indicated that he believes the legislature may take action before adjourning. "If the economic development folks tell us it needs to be done then we're going to do it," said Kelly. "We're obviously doing our due diligence. If we don't have to do it now and we can wait until '08 that's what we're going to do. But if it becomes clear to us that we need to take action, I'm prepared to take action and as far as I know so is (Senate) President Williams and the rest of our caucus."
Kelly said if the case is made that the funding is needed in '07 in order to accommodate the timetable for preparing the Horse Park to host the 2010 Games, then he would consider the matter an economic emergency.
House Bill 327 which would authorize the spending is currently making its way through the House of Representatives and there, Speaker Jody Richards who is running for governor, was less optimistic. "The legislature is weighing many millions of dollars in worthwhile program and project requests in a non-budget year," he said in a statement. "Last year we funded the administration's full request for the Games to meet the commitment that was made at the time we were awarded the bid. This additional funding request for the World Equestrian Games will receive the same thorough review as the other projects the governor is now proposing. However," Richards added, "the state is facing tremendous needs, in education, retirement, and health insurance, just to name a few, so this request must be looked at in this context."
With other states interested in attracting major equestrian events —including New York's reported interest in hosting the 2014 World Equestrian Games-- the mayor of the Kentucky's largest city has joined those urging the 2007 Kentucky General Assembly to fund an outdoor arena for the Kentucky Horse Park in time to host the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games 2010.
On Thursday, Louisville Mayor Jerry Abramson weighed-in with a letter to members of the House Economic Development Committee noting that the estimated $150 million "impact of these games will be felt in my community and in communities across the state."
"More importantly," noted Abramson, "the World Equestrian Games will place Kentucky and our horse industry in an international spotlight that can pay dividends for years to come as business leaders, investors, travelers and television viewers see what the Commonwealth has to offer."
Though the FEI has secured Alltech as the 2010 game's naming sponsor, potential mid-level sponsors not yet committed to the games were said to be closely monitoring the situation."