[BoddaH1994]

If Mason City councilman Tony Bradburn has his way, it will cost you more money to attend Kings Island in 2010.



An attempt to impose a 3-percent admissions and 5-percent parking tax was made at the most recent Mason City Council meeting November 9 without the park’s knowledge - and without your knowledge.



Bradburn, chairman of Mason’s finance committee, has been a staunch advocate of higher taxes on businesses including the promotion of the admissions tax since joining council. To consider such an “anti-business” proposition in today’s economic climate makes absolutely no sense whatsoever.



A final vote is expected on Monday, November 23. If the tax passes, increases will go into effect for the 2010 season.



To voice your opinion on being assessed an admissions and parking tax when you visit Kings Island, attend the November 23 Mason City Council meeting held in the Mason City Building located at 6000 Mason-Montgomery Road. The open to the public meeting is scheduled to begin at 7:00pm. Mason council can also be reached by phone at 513-229-8500 or via email at council@masonoh.org.



Thank you for supporting Kings Island and other area businesses. We look forward to seeing you at the park in 2010.





TELL MASON CITY COUNCIL THAT YOU DON’T WANT TO BE TAXED:



User Tax - This is not a tax on Kings Island, it is a tax on Kings Island’s guests. For example, the average family that purchases their season pass this summer:



- 4-pack of Regular Passes and One Parking Pass = $13.40 in additional taxes

- 4-pack of Platinum Passes = $19.20 in additional taxes



Bad for the Entire Area - Warren County’s #1 industry is tourism. This tax will create a negative effect that will be felt by other businesses in the area. This tax will be especially damaging to area hotels, restaurants, and service stations.



Job Cuts and Future Investment - Fewer visitors will result in the elimination of full time and seasonal jobs at Kings Island and many other area attractions and businesses.



Terrible Timing - With so many people struggling in this economy, this idea couldn’t come at a worse time. Many families and companies are forced to make cuts to survive the current downturn. Why should the city of Mason be an exception?



Credibility Issue - A promise was made that an admissions tax would never be enacted when Kings Island was annexed into the city of Mason in 1997. What confidence can other business prospects have?



Kings Island Employees Pay City Taxes - Park employees have paid nearly $440,000 to the city of Mason in income tax over the past two seasons.



Kings Island Pays Police - 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.



Bad for Kings Island - A forced price increase of any kind will have a strong, negative effect on overall attendance and revenues and could prevent further expansion and development.



Far Less Traffic Now Than in 1997 - Kings Island entertains nearly 1 million less people each year than when it was annexed into the city of Mason. During that same period, the city of Mason has nearly tripled in size.



IN THEIR OWN WORDS - RECENT QUOTES ON THE TAX DEBATE:



Tony Bradburn, Mason City Council Member / Cincinnati Enquirer - Nov 10, 2009

"They'll survive."



Tony Bradburn, Mason City Council Member / FOX 19.com - Nov 10, 2009

"We only need four votes to pass it."



Greg Scheid, Kings Island General Manager / Dayton Daily News - Nov 11, 2009

"It's really disappointing. Mason's slogan is 'Your business partner,' and I don't feel like they're being a very fair partner right now."



Northeast Cincinnati Chamber / Cincinnati Enquirer - Nov 12, 2009

“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.”



Kate Storch, The Beach Waterpark / Cincinnati Enquirer - Nov 10, 2009

"The idea that they would introduce a tax like that today is just really hard to fathom. It's not what the city of Mason needs. It's not what we need to maintain our viability here."



Ralph Vilarado, The Beach Waterpark / ONNtv.com - Nov 11, 2009

"Our attendance goes down and therefore as people come into the city of Mason, they don't just come visit us. They come visit all the other businesses. They support the hotel, they support the restaurants, the gas station"



Dave Moushey, Mason Resident / Dayton Daily News - Nov 11, 2009

"It's not the time to start taxing people. People are hurting enough right now."


In the News:
Mason Proposes Amusement Park Taxes



Kings Island, Chamber Vow to Fight Admissions Tax


Kings Island Admissions Tax Proposed



Mason Proposes Tax for Visitors to Kings Island



NEC Chamber Opposes Mason Admissions and Parking Tax

[TylerRider]

Will gold passes have unlimited parking?

[BoddaH1994]

Will gold passes have unlimited parking?

Who knows? The fact of the matter is, this is going to cost you a lot of money. If they impose a tax on parking, that's a cost that you, the consumer, is going to have to eat. I find it unlikely that free parking with early season pass purchases will be an option in the future if this passes.

Kings Island isn't making a big deal out of this because of greed. It is seriously going to hurt the business. If you listened to the conference call a week ago, chain-wide group sales are down. Now an admissions tax on an individual ticket may be $1 or so, but think of the group rates -- if someone wants to purchase, say 4,000 tickets that's an additional $4,000. It's going to be a deal breaker for a lot of companies.

Cedar Fair will have to make up for this revenue somehow. How? By eliminating perks like free parking, cutting back operating hours, limiting live shows and entertainment, raising food and merch prices and cutting back on future expansions.

This WILL affect your future experiences at Kings Island in a very negative way.

[TylerRider]

Will gold passes have unlimited parking?

Who knows? The fact of the matter is, this is going to cost you a lot of money. If they impose a tax on parking, that's a cost that you, the consumer, is going to have to eat. I find it unlikely that free parking with early season pass purchases will be an option in the future if this passes.

Kings Island isn't making a big deal out of this because of greed. It is seriously going to hurt the business. If you listened to the conference call a week ago, chain-wide group sales are down. Now an admissions tax on an individual ticket may be $1 or so, but think of the group rates -- if someone wants to purchase, say 4,000 tickets that's an additional $4,000. It's going to be a deal breaker for a lot of companies.

Cedar Fair will have to make up for this revenue somehow. How? By eliminating perks like free parking, cutting back operating hours, limiting live shows and entertainment, raising food and merch prices and cutting back on future expansions.

This WILL affect your future experiences at Kings Island in a very negative way.

ok

[SOB_TOM]

If this passes, The Beach is most likely gone, KI will struggle, and any other business will think twice about coming to Mason.

Seriously, if it takes as much money that is quoted above to run one city the size of Mason, there is a serious problem. Over 500K in tax revenue, and they are seeking more? I think in Mason its time to look at their books before even thinking about a new tax.

BTW, lets keep national politics out of this discussion. This topic, in its nature, is political, however it will be advanced if we stay on topic and not stray to the finger pointing.

Tom, who feels like he just slapped himself for uttering that phrase...

[gigacoaster2k]

How will this possibly affect the Buy Now, Pay Later season pass sales?
I'd like to know. I'm definitely buying a platinum pass for myself, and considering a gold pass for my dad for Christmas. If this tax passes, and free parking at KI with gold and platinum is taken away, then I have some thinking to do.

[Whales_Rock]

If this it gets ANYMORE expensive then what it is now, 'm telling you right now my parents aren't going to let me go to KI ONCE next year.

[CedarPointer]

^^I doubt that CF could revoke that benefit on the buy now pay later passes. If they did, a class action lawsuit could possibly be on the horizion.

[Whales_Rock]

^ I mean regular tickets, my parents won't let me have a season pass o_o

[CedarPointer]

I was referring to giga's post, which is why I had "^^"...

[Dvo]

I do agree that if the tax goes through, it'll be bad for business in the long run. However, Kings Island gets a lot of business from 2 major groups:

1) Gold Pass Holders
2) Families who make 1 or 2 trips per year

And personally I don't think the extra $10 or $20 is going to keep them away. Gold passes at Kings Island are actually very affordable when compared to similar passes at other parks. Six Flags Great America, for instance only charges $69 for the pass. But if you want a parking pass, add on another $70 bringing the total to $139. So even if the tax is implemented, I think the park will still sell a ton of passes. The same applies for a family who visits once or twice a season. A day at the park is often a one-day splurge for people, and again it's very inexpensive compared to taking a full vacation or something of that sort. An extra $15 or $20 isn't going to scare off the entire crowd.

[kjkjkj]

Hasn't free parking with a pass already been promised for Gold Pass members? They can't revoke it for the 2010 season right? If they do, I'm sure there will be a lot of angry people who have already purchesed their passes.

[The Beach Waterpark]

If this passes, The Beach is most likely gone

Really?

[Avatar]

I have watched this issue develop through the years and each time the story always changes why they need the additional revenue. I wish government would just come out and state the true purpose of their intentions and why it is necessary to ask the general public for the funds with facts and figures to back up their propositions.

I feel the City of Mason has and is being disingenuous in regards to this issue. For that I fell it is the responsibility of the general public and the citizen of Mason who need to send a strong message and renounce this type of disingenuousness in our elected officials and to send a loud message to all future candidates that Mason expects honest and transparency. Further more by doing so the community sends a very loud message that they appreciate their local business and look to them as a partner in the community and not a revenue resource.

I feel so strongly about my words that I plan to back it up by attending The Mason City Council Meeting on Monday night and express my concerns. I will fell proud as a out of state visitor to stand with the citizens of Mason and the representatives of Kings Island and The Beach to voice our opposition to an injustice that touches so many in their own way.

I hope many more of you who read this will feel compelled to attend too.

[KIfan73]

I hope many more of you who read this will feel compelled to attend too.

That would be one interesting off-season blues party!