The use of ratepayer money to sponsor the Riverina Field Days was questioned during Tuesday night's Griffith City Council meeting.
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Council voted to sponsor the event - which is due to be held at the Griffith Showgrounds on May 15 and 16 - to the sum of $5,000 as well as provide 'in-kind' support to the event but not before Councillor Rina Mercuri questioned how much of an economical boost the city received from the event.
Cr Mercuri said she was "happy to support the Field Days" but queried whether council's plan to contribute ratepayer money to the event was the most logical use of funds.
"We sponsor a lot of people - whether of in kind or any monetary sponsorship," Cr Mercuri said.
"We really are using the ratepayers money, it would be nice to know how much money were giving back into the community via it [the Field Days].
"It's well and good to have our name presented up there as council but we really don't need the advertising - what I would think that we're looking at is actually to bring money into our community to sustain our economy and that's the reason why I wanted to ask."
Councillor Christine Stead said the Field Days saw more than 5,000 people attend in 2019, with a strong showing from out-of-town visitors and exhibitors.
"60% of people who went through the gate were from out of town," Cr Stead said.
"There was 260 exhibitors including reps from out of town."
Council's economic and organisational development director Shireen Donaldson said Cr Stead's report was "way more than what I have" and while the visitors centre had done a pop-up session collecting data in previous years, they did not do so in 2019.
Ms Donaldson also indicated a report detailing the economic benefit was being prepared for a future presentation to council.
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Mayor John Dal Broi said a significant amount of businesses in the city benefit from the event each year.
"I think there are a lot of people and businesses that depend on that Riverina Field Days," Councillor Dal Broi said.
"Motels, fuel stations - you name it, they all benefit."
Councillor Glen Andreazza supported the sponsorship and said it helped to bring the community together.
"I think it brings a lot of money into the town," Cr Andreazza said.
"It's great for many farmers and sort of their way of getting together.
"There is a lot of work that goes into it and I think council should encourage it and keep it going."
