NOT AS FAIR: Money is a little...

NOT AS FAIR: Money is a little tighter at the county fairgrounds these days. The Fair and Exposition Center board has approved a 1996 budget of $11.7 million--down about $800,000 from this year. Main reason: lack of revenue from the Pacific Amphitheatre--only $13,000 for the whole year--partly because renovation got the year off to a slow start. The fair board is now embroiled in a lawsuit against the former operator. . . . One bit of good news: The new carnival contractor, RCS, will kick in $200,000 toward capital improvements.

TOUTING THE BOSS: Thirty years ago, Disneyland officials started sending one ambassador a year worldwide to promote the theme park. It’s now at three, and starting next year, it jumps to four. . . . All are park employees chosen from among 10,000 applicants. “We’ve kept them so busy, we really need a fourth,” says Disneyland Resort President Paul Pressler. They won’t have any shortage of places to go. Disneyland gets thousands of requests each year for its ambassadors--usually accompanied by Disney characters.

STILL YOUNG? Yvonne Van Fleet sang “Hello Young Lovers” in the talent competition and was one of five Southland finalists recently chosen to compete for Ms. Senior America of California. Van Fleet, 68, of Laguna Hills, says the pageant--complete with short speech and evening gown competition--helped her feel youthful. Van Fleet should be confident going into the next round--she’s a former model. . . . Keep busy, she advises seniors: “There are a lot of beautiful things out there.”

BOOMERANG BOOKS--Those old telephone directories you tossed out are coming back soon--through your mail slot. Pacific Bell is turning the out-of-date phone books into new khaki-green payment envelopes. . . . “It makes good business sense and good environmental sense,” says Pac Bell spokeswoman Linda Bonniksen. Phone company officials plan to unveil the new envelopes today at the Anaheim bill-processing center, but one should also come with your next bill.

TONIGHT: Pop singer-songwriter Jane Siberry performs at 8, the Coach House, San Juan Capistrano. (714) 496-8930.