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Crowds of business people are expected to queue up at 7 p.m. Monday, May 5, at the Mason Municipal Center as the city council finance committee again takes up the issue of admissions taxes.

Players like Kings Island and The Beach, along with ancillary businesses that benefit from their clientele, want to know why the city that just passed a tax break would need new revenue.

Mike Miller, chairman of the Governmental Affairs Committee of the Northeast Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce, said they just want answers.

"My issue with the council is they are trying to raise revenue, and they are trying to put it to a group they think can afford it," he said. "Every dollar they cause to be raised by that group, it causes them to lose the ability to service their customers and provide new attractions. We are questioning the need for that tax. Ohio businesses are taxed enough."

The "ticket tax" issue has been raised a number of times, and it became connected with the recent voter-approved income tax credit issue.

Mayor Tom Grossmann has said the issues are mutually

exclusive. The income tax credit was an issue of fairness to residents who pay taxes to Mason and to municipalities where they work, he said.

The admissions tax issue, raised by Councilman Tony Bradburn, also was an issue of equity, in terms of the city providing extra police and other services — and in the future road improvements near Kings Island — to the tourism venues, and those visitors should share the cost.

Finance Committee Chairman Pete Beck said the meeting is purely exploratory and he is not ready to advance legislation.

John Harris, president of the NEC Chamber said the city could make a big mistake by traveling down this particular path.

"We're looking at it from an economic development regional impact, versus one small little admissions tax," he said. "What is the true impact? Visitors and tourism are the No. 1 industry in Warren County."

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

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