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Kings Island ticket tax rejected by Mason City Council

Kings Island officials will hold a tailgate party today prior to the vote today by Mason Council on a proposed admissions and parking tax.

Apryl Pilolli Kings Island officials will hold a tailgate party today prior to the vote today by Mason Council on a proposed admissions and parking tax.

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Will a tax increase affect your decision to buy Kings Island tickets this year?

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By Denise G. Callahan, Staff Writer Updated 11:54 AM Tuesday, March 16, 2010

MASON — The cost to park and play at Kings Island might not go up when the amusement park opens this spring after city leaders shot down proposed admission and parking taxes.

With more than 200 people in attendance, Mason City Council, with the exception of the biggest proponent of the taxes Councilman Tony Bradburn, voted against both the proposed 3 percent ticket and 5 percent parking tax legislation.

The taxes could have spelled the demise of other venues like The Beach Waterpark, according to Councilman Rich Cox, who said “I’m not going to let that happen, not on my watch.”

Had the council passed the tax, purchasers of a Kings Island gold season pass — which includes parking — would have paid an additional $3 for their $99.99 pass. Park-goers would have had pony up an extra $2 for a parking pass.

Corporate clients, which make up about one-third of Kings Island’s business, would have taken the biggest hit had the tax passed. One company pays the park $1 million every year for a two-day event, said Vice President and General Manager Greg Scheid. That’s a $30,000 price hike.

The more than $2 million the tax would have generated would have been used to pay for infrastructure improvements and emergency services, city officials said.

Mason leaders have said $24 million worth of improvements are needed at the Western Row Road and Interstate 71 interchange near Kings Island and the Beach Waterpark. They said when the amusement parks are operating, the city also incurs more calls for service for police and fire services.

Bradburn showed the crowd figures that illustrated the attractions in town aren’t paying their fair share for services they receive. He said the cost/revenue impact of other businesses like Procter & Gamble and Cintas is $10.9 million on the positive side but the local attractions cost the city about $3 million.

“I’m a conservative,” he said, a remark some in the crowd scoffed at.

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