Official: State Fair Facing Bankruptcy

On the heels of an exclusive News Channel Nebraska investigation which uncovered major financial and personnel problems at the Nebraska State Fair, more concerns have now surfaced.

Our news partner, KSNB Local 4 reports that Finance Director Patrick Kopke has resigned, insisting his budget concerns have been ignored, and claiming that the fair is one year from bankruptcy.

But Fair Board Chairman Chris Kircher says he and other board members "absolutely disagree" with Kopke's assessment, adding that a new budget plan is now in place that will dramatically improve the fair's financial situation.

Board member Jeremy Jensen says those changes will include lay-offs saving some $600,000.

NCN first reported that Lori Cox, the fair's executive director, has been the subject of a series of complaints ranging from the budget she oversees to the clothes she wears.

During this year's fair one board member told Cox to stop wearing shorts and tight shirts. 

At that time there were also allegations that the fair was over $400,000 in the red.

Reports are now surfacing that before Friday's meeting the fair was over $1 millionBoth  in the red.

As we first reported some board members have also pushed to put Cox on administrative leave in connection with her handling of the budget but they could not come up with the needed votes.

Both Kircher and Jensen expressed support for Cox, whose contract is up in January.

The board is scheduled to meet again on December 13th.