Mason tonight will take a fresh look at a proposed admissions and parking tax. The city says it needs the extra money, because of the drain of major attractions, such as Kings Island. The issue originally came up a few months ago, but was tabled. A rally against the plan takes place tonight.
Local 12 Reporter Rich Jaffe shares more from Mason on the tax and the controversy.
The proposed tax would add 3 percent to tickets and 5 percent to parking at places like Kings Island and The Beach Waterpark. People are gathering here for an anti-tax tailgate party, prior to a Mason Council meeting, where the tax could be approved.
According to Mason Finance Chairman, Tony Bradburn, the tax at Kings Island would add 66 cents to the price of admission and fifty cents to the ten dollar parking fee. The nearly two million dollars a year the tax would generate, at places like Kings Island and The Beach and any other place that charges admission, would be used to help the city get out from under an annual loss of just more than three million dollars.
Tony Bradburn, City Council Member: "This additional money will be put in the capital improvements fund for capital improvements in the future, that will directly affect road improvements in those areas where visitors come, Western Row, 71 interchange, is one of the ones."
When the proposed tax first came up for discussion in November, Kings Island started a major anti-tax marketing campaign. Park officials, along with some business owners and community leaders, are afraid additional taxes will drive people away from the attractions and the community.
John Harris, N.E. Chamber of Commerce: "The numbers Tony is holding, some of them very close to his vest, because it's not been made public. We're sitting here saying this is what we need, has it been totally investigated, have you gone to those businesses that will be affected, why do you need the money, where do you need the money and where is the money going to go?"
Tony Bradburn says, for Mason, it's all about the dollars.
"So, the bottom line is, if you're able to charge your guest 30 to 40 percent premium on food once they're inside, I don't see where there's going to be a problem with a three percent admission tax."
It's not just Kings Island and The Beach who would be facing this new tax, it's any event that charges admission... that's not a charity. That means tickets for things, such as tennis and golf matches, could also go up.
The anti-tax rally at Kings Island wraps up at 6:30 tonight. The Mason Council meeting begins at 7 pm. Tony Bradburn expects council will vote on the tax tonight.
