W
ashington County paid HGTV star Hilary Farr $30,000 to be the keynote speaker at its Real Estate Expo on March 12. The county borrowed money from federal pandemic recovery funds meant for blight mitigation to cover the cost. Farr's appearance was advertised as the highlight of the event, and she spoke about economic development in the region alongside County Commission Chairman Nick Sherman.

    After speaking, Farr stayed for a meet-and-greet with VIP attendees before departing after two hours at the expo. Sherman said that the county will repay the $30,000 from sponsorship dollars and vendor fees generated by the event, ensuring no cost to taxpayers or the blight fund.

    However, Commissioner Larry Maggi wants transparency on how much county money was spent on the event and what sponsorship or vendor payments were made to offset costs. He has called for an audit to determine the purpose of the expo and who contributed funds.

    The county authorized a contract with Creative Artists Agency in December to secure Farr's appearance, using blight mitigation funds to pay the initial deposit. The county also paid for Farr's first-class airfare, hotel stay, and luxury transportation. The total cost of the event is not yet known, as invoices for venue rental fees, chairs, audio equipment, and credit card statements have not been released.

    Acting County Controller Heather Sheatler has questioned the use of a new bank account labeled "Real Estate Expo" that was opened in February without oversight from her office. The account had about $7,500 in it when discovered.

    The daylong expo included discussions on economic development topics and sessions with local leaders. About 75 sponsors and vendors participated, but official attendance figures have not been revealed. Sherman said the event was a success, attracting 1,500 people and encouraging plans for a similar event next year.