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City to consider tax on Kings Island admission

A sign in front of Kings Island asks residents Thursday, Nov. 19, 2009, to protest a resolution proposed by Mason City Council that would impose a 3 percent tax on tickets for area attractions and levy a 5 percent tax on parking. The flashing sign reads

Staff photo by Apryl Pilolli A sign in front of Kings Island asks residents Thursday, Nov. 19, 2009, to protest a resolution proposed by Mason City Council that would impose a 3 percent tax on tickets for area attractions and levy a 5 percent tax on parking. The flashing sign reads "Mason wants to tax you! Tell them no, " and lists the city's phone number and when the council will meet.

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By Denise G. Callahan, Staff Writer 7:15 PM Sunday, November 22, 2009

MASON — The giant sign in front of Kings Island reads “Mason wants to tax you ... tell them no.”

The city council will address a proposed 3 percent admissions and 5 percent parking tax during a meeting at 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 23, at the Mason Municipal Center, 6000 Mason-Montgomery Road.

Spokesman Don Helbig said an estimated 200,000 of Kings Island’s customers have been e-mailed or notified via social networking and fan Web sites about the tax proposal.

The Beach water park, which would also be affected by the tax plan, has e-mailed 35,000 of its customers asking them to contact council.

As of Thursday, the city had received a couple dozen phone calls and more than 600 e-mails. A “couple” favored the tax, according to city spokeswoman Jennifer Trepal.

Pam Strickfaden, vice president and general manager of The Beach, said she has talked with people from the business community, who tell her this is a terrible time for a new tax.

The Northeast Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce has worked to discourage the tax since it was brought up two years ago, and Strickfaden said the Dayton Chamber of Commerce has offered to help.

“Their concern is certainly what ours is — its economic impact,” she said. “Economic impact on the region, on tourism, and how it’s going to affect every ancillary business that’s involved, not just the customers of The Beach and Kings Island.”

Kings Island Vice President and General Manager Greg Scheid said the proposal would tax people, not the park.

A family purchasing a four-pack of regular passes and one parking pass will pay an additional $13.40 in taxes.

City officials say the tax is needed to help fund the estimated $24 million Western Row Road and Interstate 71 interchange. They also say additional fire and police service is necessary when the attractions are open.

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

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Maybe the city officials should see a decrease in people at Kings Island this year. Next thing is they will shut it down. It already cost too much money to go there, and God forbid you get hungry, it cost a fortune to eat there.
Point is, it is too costly already, people are not going to pay more to go there.
I know I will not go not even for my grandkids, I will take them to Ky., or somewhere else where it does not cost so much to get in to begin with.
Many children have not been, too high.

willnotgothere
1:17 PM, 11/23/2009

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Previous comment should have read Non-Mason residents aren't (not are) the ones whose ox is being gored with traffic expenses and needed road infrastructure improvements because of KI and therefore non-residents have no capital to spend on this issue.

TAX WON'T AFFECT KI's attendance one iota and experience at other parks where admission taxes have been imposed bear this out. There are virtually NO major parks in the US that don't have an admissions tax. Quit whining KI - it's pathetic.

Show Me The Money
11:23 AM, 11/23/2009

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How many comments against the tax are from people who actually live in Mason? If you don't live in Mason, you don't have a dog in the fight, so butt out. Non-Mason residents are the ones whose ox is being gored with traffic expenses and needed road infrastructure improvements because of KI - a non-resident has no capital to spend on this issue. And now the Dayton COC wants to chime in -puleeze! The NE COC and WCCVB get their funding from KI - they're just mouthpieces for KI. Go Council!!!!

Show Me The Money
11:14 AM, 11/23/2009

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maybe the couple will vote for her use your vote to stop this tax

conley roach
8:36 AM, 11/23/2009

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Let the city cause K.I. to lose cuxtomers. The price of admission is already way too high if you add taxes on to that, you will lose customers. I for one will not go if this happens. Seems like enough places have lost customers, why risk losing more.? We all pay way too much in taxes already. Enough is enough.
Mason has really grown why would you want to do this? Find another way.

taxed enough already
6:53 AM, 11/23/2009

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