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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