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Kings Island, chamber vow to fight admissions tax

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Staff photo by Linda Weisenborn Visitors to Kings Island on a weekday afternoon wait in line for their turn to ride the Diamondback in 2009.

By Eric Schwartzberg, Staff Writer Updated 4:14 PM Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Visitors to Kings Island, The Beach Waterpark or other Mason attractions may have to fork over a little more to get past the front gates.

That's because city council on Monday, Nov. 9, made a first reading of a resolution that would add an admissions tax for area attractions, with the exception of non-profit organizations.

The city tried several times before to enact such a tax but was met with opposition each time and withdrew the matter from consideration.

Council member Tony Bradburn, chairman of the city's finance committee and a staunch advocate of the tax, said if an attraction draws large groups of people to the city, additional government services such as fire and police protection must increase accordingly — and the city ought to be compensated.

"There are expenses related to that number of people and I believe those people should help pay for it, rather than the citizens of Mason subsidizing their operation," Bradburn said.

A 3-percent admissions tax would offset the cost of those additional services by generating millions of dollars in revenue, he said.

The measure did not appear on the council's agenda and was introduced during the meeting but could not advance beyond a first reading, let alone to a vote, because only four of seven city council members were present.

Greg Scheid, vice president and general manager of Kings Island, said later the news left him "shell-shocked."

"The fact that it wasn't on the agenda and no one bothered to give us any heads-up that it was going to be discussed — I just felt like it was pretty low of the city to go that way," he said.

Scheid said Kings Island also was "totally blindsided" by news that council also held a first reading for a resolution that would add a tax on the "parking, housing or storage of motor vehicles in a lot, building or other facility used for parking, housing or otherwise storing motor vehicles."

In a statement issued Tuesday, Nov. 10, Kings Island said it provides for policing.

"Over the past two seasons, Kings Island has paid nearly $110,000 to cover the cost of Mason Police patrolling the park, with no cost to the City of Mason. Park employees have paid nearly $440,000 to the City of Mason in income tax over the same span," the statement read.

Bradburn said 5 percent is the proposed amount for the parking tax.

As required, the council is scheduled to conduct a second reading for each of the two resolutions at their Nov. 23 meeting before any action can be taken.

Kings Island plans to fight against both taxes, Scheid said.

"It's really disappointing," he said. "Mason's slogan is 'Your business partner,' and I don't feel like they're being a very fair partner right now."

Kings Island also said in its statement Tuesday an admissions tax could lead to job loss at the park and that future charitable donations, including those it makes to Festivals of Mason, would be re-evaluated.

John Harris, president of the Northeast Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce, said the chamber will work with gated attractions to fight the admissions tax, which he called "an economic deterrent."

"Particularly now with the downturn in the economy, is this the time to be assessing business?" Harris said. "They need to be able to sustain a level to where they can keep and maintain an investment in their properties."

Mason resident Dave Moushey criticized city council at Monday night's meeting for bringing the measure up without enough time for it to be included on the agenda.

"It's not the time to start taxing people," he said. "People are hurting enough right now."

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Wow, there are a lot of sensible people posting here. Too bad none of them are running for Council. There's also a few morons. Here's a few facts.....(Bradburn already knows all of this...he just thinks you're too stupid to care):

1)Mason previously provided Kings Island with assurances that a tax of this kind would not be imposed. If the city is willing to betray its biggest employer, how much do you think they value any pormises they make to you, Mr. and Mrs. Mason?

Jamie
7:56 AM, 11/21/2009

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Bradburn would seem to be just short of mentally ******** in his reasoning. The city is extremely well "compensated" by the hundreds of thousands of dollars that Kings Island employees contribute in income tax annually. Most of these employees do not work in Mason and thus enjoy few if any other city services.

jh
7:46 AM, 11/21/2009

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Is this the way we run a Governlment? Seems to me that some people are talking out both sides of their mouth. First, we have enough money, now on the other side it's saying, we don't have enough money. Which is it Big Government? Seems to me some of you are watching too much TV, and seeing what Wasington is doing and saying. Clean up the act.

John Fender
9:33 PM, 11/17/2009

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With the way the economy is right now this is not the time to add any additional tax burdens on to any business, let alone any from Mason. Kings Island is a place where people go to escape from the daily problems for just a few hours. This tax would make it hard on the Kings Island Season Pass Holder, let alone the person who just comes once or twice a year. During the summer I would say at least 1/4th of patrons are from Mason, OH. This would not be helping any Mason resident.

John Fender
9:28 PM, 11/17/2009

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I think the City Council is missing the big picture here. I lived in an area where several major businesses packed up and left, after years of people saying those businesses would always be around. If we start creating financial disincentives for Kings Island, they will reinvest their profits in other parks, in other areas, and eventually this park will begin a decline and be sold, or worse, closed. Geauga Lake Amusement Park is closed. It CAN happen. The Council is dead wrong on this one.

Sam Slater
4:26 PM, 11/17/2009

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