Local News

Attractions will get a say in admissions tax debate
64 Ohio municipalities raise more than $20M yearly with similar tax

Thursday, May 11, 2006

By Christopher Magan

Staff Writer

Mason won’t be levying an admissions tax anytime soon.

“It’s just an idea,” Councilman Steve Osborne said Monday after council’s regular meeting. “We’ll be sure to include all our businesses in the discussion.”

The council finance committee, of which Osborne is a member, has yet to set a date to discuss a possible tax on tickets proposed by Councilman Tony Bradburn.

Bradburn proposed last month a tax of between 3 and 5 percent on tickets to Paramount’s Kings Island, The Beach and the Tennis Masters Series to pay for safety services and infrastructure.

Tourism just surpassed farming as Warren County’s number one industry — drawing 6.5 million visitors last year. Shirley Bonekemper, Warren County Convention and Visitors Bureau executive director, said her organization hasn’t taken a position on the proposal, but is concerned.

“Anything that our partners are concerned about concerns us,” Bonekemper said. “We’re looking at how it will affect tourism in Warren County.”

Mason wouldn’t be the first city to levy an admissions tax. Similar taxes raised $21 million statewide in 2003, the last year numbers were available, according to the Ohio Department of Taxation.

“In that year there were 64 municipalities that levied this tax,” said Mike McKinney, taxation department spokesman. “I wouldn’t say it is widespread in Ohio.”

Almost 75 percent of the tax rates in Ohio are 3 percent, McKinney said.

One city collecting a 3 percent ticket tax is Sandusky, the home of Cedar Point amusement park. In 2003, the tax brought in $2.4 million for the city.

Mason now collects property taxes from attractions in its borders and income taxes from employees who work at the parks.

Income tax revenues are held confidentially by the city, but last year Mason collected about $270,000 in property taxes from Paramount’s Kings Island. The park paid more than $2.5 million in property taxes last year, according to Nick Nelson, county auditor.

Councilman Bradburn estimates if the ticket tax were levied, it would raise millions of dollars each year.

Contact this reporter at (513) 696-4525 or cmagan@coxohio.com.