Mason Proposes Amusement Park Taxes | WBNS-10TV, Central Ohio's...

Every year millions of thrill seekers visit popular amusement parks in the city of Mason.

[Steve]

Another reason to move out of this tax state. Hey here's an idea! Why don't we tax the idiot politicians for coming up with the ideas? That's a tax issue that would get rave reviews from the public, but not the politicians. That would help ease the tax issues here in Ohio, and hopefuly prevent politicians from creating a "talking to your passenger" tax.

[RyanW]

I agree! It seems like we are basically paying taxes on the taxes we pay so the politicians should have to contribute as well... like a new form of pollution tax since what they spew out of the legislature is usually toxic!

After being taxed multiple times on our income (by the Fed Gov, State Gov, and city -if the city you live in has an income tax-and don't forget your income may be taxed by schools in certain areas) what more do we have to give. A good friend of mine got a nice promotion making MORE money and now brings home LESS money. God Bless America!

[Hank Shepard]

Way to go Mason officials. You can not even break even on all the thousands of beautiful expensive homes you have built. You used to be a farmers field. Your town does NOTHING for Kings Island at all. Why not stick it to Kings Island visitors. Why not, they do not get to vote for you right. TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION. IDIOTS

[CMH Rick]

I am against taxes as much as anyone, but if the ticket price would only go up by $1.00 I don't see where it will make much of a difference to the people that attend Kings Island. Do you guys have any idea what it already costs to go there?

If the officials at Kings Island don't think they cost the local people any extra money then I might suggest that Kings Island pay for the extra police and fire protection they cause. Myabe they could also repair the highways that are needed to get people in and out of their park.

I admit that I have no idea what the profit is that Kings Island makes each year, but I would bet that they profit more than the entire tax income for the city of Mason.

[CMH Rick]

Steve wrote:

Another reason to move out of this tax state. Hey here's an idea! Why don't we tax the idiot politicians for coming up with the ideas? That's a tax issue that would get rave reviews from the public, but not the politicians. That would help ease the tax issues here in Ohio, and hopefuly prevent politicians from creating a "talking to your passenger" tax.

I'm with you Steve. Now if you can just tell us where to go that don't have any taxes,,,,BE NICE!

[unrepentant]

I would close the park and teach the idiot's a lesson.Let them loose all of the tax revenue.

[Enough is Enough]

The admission for Kings Island is around $45 and the parking is $10, so 3% of the ticket price and 5% of the parking would be almost $2 (not per person exactly since parking is per car, not per passenger). For a single ticket that does not seem bad, but if you are taking a family or a large group it will add up. Amusement parks are already facing a large decline in the numbers of visitors and taxes like these will do nothing help these businesses who bring in so much additional money to the area and provide employment for hundreds of people.

I don't know the details of the proposal, but I'm betting there is no requirement that the money raised by the tax go to local infrastructure and I would also bet that that is not where it ultimately would get spent. Residents and visitors already get taxed to pay for road maintenance every time they put gas into their car, so why should one time visitors to the area get taxed more than those who use those roads every day? It makes no sense and is another sign of a government gone out of control. Our economy will never recover as long our government thinks the solution to everything is to create another tax.

[Net Guru]

An average family of 4 will spend around $300 per day for Kings Island and you want to raise the prices? DON'T RAISE TAXES! MANAGE THE MONEY YOU HAVE BETTER!

[Jack]

Don't put the taxes on Kings Island, Mason. You will dig yourself into a hole you will never get out of. If you want to be successful, try doing more business friendly incentives.

[revtmm]

Besides the $2 million this "tax" would generate, I would like to know how much more the city of Mason takes in from King's Island.

[NEC Chamber]

Monday night, Mason City Council started the process of enacting an Admissions and Parking tax, which the Northeast Cincinnati Chamber intends to oppose. These taxes would directly, adversely affect area businesses such as Kings Island, and The Beach Waterpark. It would indirectly affect dozens of other area small businesses, which rely on the strength of Warren County’s #1 industry, tourism.
In addition, it would discourage corporate business use of the area for meetings and other corporate events. Revenues typically received outside of the normal visitor season would be negatively impacted. In the current economic climate, consumers are already paying substantially more to visit the Mason area. Competition for discretionary entertainment dollars is fierce and visitors have many other regional options if they find this area too expensive.
The economic impact on the area will be devastating, because even though visitors come for the attractions, they use many ancillary businesses while they are here.
To consider such an “anti-business” proposition in today’s economic climate makes no sense.
For more information on the Northeast Cincinnati Chamber or its Government Affairs Committee, contact John Harris at [e-mail].

[taxessuck]

Go ahead, we'll just take our business to Cedar Point, better park anyway.

[Emma]

CMH Rick wrote:

<quoted text>I'm with you Steve. Now if you can just tell us where to go that don't have any taxes,,,,BE NICE!

My accountant tells me that Ohio is one of the worst taxing states in the country. I have seen lists where Ohio is 46th or 47th, so I can think of over 40 other states where they would get a better deal. Just as a disclaimer, those rankings may have been done before Ohio replaced the personal property tax with the Commercial Activity Tax. I don't know if that really made things better for businesses.) At any rate, I am sure the city gets quite a bit of money from property tax and local income tax from KI. There are also alot of businesses that flourish from the location of KI. Cedar Point is much better, so if King's Island raises prices I am sure their attendance will go down. If they close up shop that city will become a shell of what it is now.

[my2cents]

guess it doesn't matter to me because my family cannot afford to go there as it currently is. so by adding a couple more dollars to the ticket price won't affect us we won't be there regardless.

[hmmm]

CMH Rick wrote:

I am against taxes as much as anyone, but if the ticket price would only go up by $1.00 I don't see where it will make much of a difference to the people that attend Kings Island. Do you guys have any idea what it already costs to go there?
If the officials at Kings Island don't think they cost the local people any extra money then I might suggest that Kings Island pay for the extra police and fire protection they cause. Myabe they could also repair the highways that are needed to get people in and out of their park.
I admit that I have no idea what the profit is that Kings Island makes each year, but I would bet that they profit more than the entire tax income for the city of Mason.

I lived in Pittsburgh for a number of years, and I saw first hand what happens when a county taxes the amusement park. Ticket prices in the '90s for Kennywood were $20. Now, due to taxes, they are over $38!!! It's ridiculous, and it's still the same park.
I have a feeling Kings Island would see less visitors if there was a tax on their parking and ticket prices.

[CMH Rick]

hmmm wrote:

<quoted text>
I lived in Pittsburgh for a number of years, and I saw first hand what happens when a county taxes the amusement park. Ticket prices in the '90s for Kennywood were $20. Now, due to taxes, they are over $38!!! It's ridiculous, and it's still the same park.
I have a feeling Kings Island would see less visitors if there was a tax on their parking and ticket prices.

Are you saying that the tax is $18 per ticket? That would be outright robbery.

[pcfromfl]

CMH Rick wrote:

<quoted text>Are you saying that the tax is $18 per ticket? That would be outright robbery.

yeah but its legal I livr in Florida and Disney used to be 59.00 per now its almost 90.00 there doing all over go to Cedar Point its a better park anyways

[CMH Rick]

pcfromfl wrote:

<quoted text>yeah but its legal I livr in Florida and Disney used to be 59.00 per now its almost 90.00 there doing all over go to Cedar Point its a better park anyways

Well I can almost expect it in Florida. Just look at all the toll booths around Orlando. The locals probably know how to get around them but people traveling through or people on vacation get a double whammy. Pay the toll, drag race for 5 miles, stop and pay another toll, drag race 4 miles and do it again.

[pcfromfl]

CMH Rick wrote:

<quoted text>Well I can almost expect it in Florida. Just look at all the toll booths around Orlando. The locals probably know how to get around them but people traveling through or people on vacation get a double whammy. Pay the toll, drag race for 5 miles, stop and pay another toll, drag race 4 miles and do it again.

Pretty soon it will get to the point were families wont be able to afford it at all, and the parks will price themselves out of buiness.

[Six visits last year]

We visited Kings Island 6 times and Cedar Point 6 times last year. Pass this, and it's Cedar Point all the way. Sure, it's only 6 visits with 6-8 people a time, who also eat out after the park and spend way to much money while inside, but in the end, you will lose tax revenue and business will be hurt. Will they survive? Sure - but with fewer employees, and perhaps a shortened season. Not smart!