Well over 100 business representatives, concerned citizens and park lovers were on hand at the Feb 8th Mason City Council Meeting for Round 2 of the battle over the proposed parking and admissions tax.

Rummaging through two hours of very passionate testimony, including some that got heated, council ultimately voted 5-1 against the ordinance. Tony Bradburn, who was responsible for spearheading this tax was the only 'yes' vote and Christine Shimrock was forced to abstain due to her affiliation with the charity A Kid Again.

The staff of KICentral would like to thank the many members of our great community who came out to support the park as well as the local businesses. You've made us proud!

Kings Island will be hosting a Tailgate Party on Monday, Feb 8th, before the Mason City Council meeting which will determine if Kings Island and The Beach's patrons will be taxed on admission and parking.

Where: Kings Island's International Restaurant

What: Rally before the big tax vote. Snacks and refreshments provided.

When: Tax Tailgate will be from 5:30 to 6:30 and the Mason Council Meeting will begin at 7:00.

The Tax Tailgate is complementary and everyone is encouraged to attend both it and the council meeting.

The lowdown:

Former Mason mayor Tom Grossmann and councilman Tony Bradburn's plan to slap a 3-percent admission and 5-percent parking tax on visitors to Kings Island and the Beach Water Park goes to a vote at the February 8 Mason City Council meeting. The public is invited to attend.

Both Kings Island and The Beach object to this tax plan. In the November 2009 Kings Island Newsletter, the park laid out likely consequences if this tax is passed. This includes information about how the tax is bad for all local businesses. Not only the parks, but local hotels and restaurants would also carry the burden of this tax. Additionally, it would affect the park by being a serious blow to ticket sales. This will result in future capital expenditure cuts and benefit cuts for employees.

They also added that when Kings Island was annexed into Mason in 1997, they were assured that there would be no admissions tax in the future. Bradburn counters claiming that they are not legally bound by these terms. When this issue was initially debated during a council meeting in late November, many representatives from local businesses questioned the credibility of the city as a result of this argument.

In many publications, including the Ohio News Network,it is stated that the nearly $2 million that this tax will generate annually would go towards necessary road improvements near Kings Island. Nearly ever article about the tax quotes Councilman Tony Bradburn.
Source: http://www.10tv.com/live/content/onnnews/stories/2009/11/11/Admission_Tax_Proposal.html?sid=102

Critics question the true motives of this tax. The 2006 Mason State of the City report states the following:
"Mason will also start a justification study this year for a full interchange at I-71 and Western Row Road. We will be working with the Warren County Engineer on this study, which will include the Kings Mills exit. Construction is still a number of years out. City Council saw the merits of a full interchange at this location and established a TIF (Tax Increment Financing district) a few years ago in order to earmark funds to go towards this interchange."
Source: http://www.imaginemason.org/home.php?ID=475

Since the last meeting in which this issue was discussed, there has been a term change in council - adding an element of mystery to how each member intends to vote.

The most notable of these changes is the election of a new mayor. Don Price, who sat on the council in November, now occupies the highest seat on it. Running on an anti-tax platform, his political philosophy states that all people who pay taxes are over-taxed. Although his political philosophy has been removed from his web site after it was cited at the meeting in November, it stated:

"All taxpayers in this nation are over-taxed. When considering federal, state, and local income tax, social security tax, medicare tax, real estate taxes, personal property tax, licensing and registration fees of all sorts, it becomes clear that we are over-taxed. Government needs to listen to the taxpayer more and to the bureaucracy less. Taking of one’s wealth is taking a measure of their freedom."
Source: KeepDonPrince.com (November 2009) Now offline

Regardless of the fact that this political platform - the platform in which he was elected - was removed from the public eye, Mayor Prince was elected on this platform. The citizens of Mason read and agreed with his words. On February 8th, we will find out if Don Prince agrees with his own words.

The future of our wonderful park will be determined on February 8th when the Mason City Council determines whether or not to pass this tax. It is incredibly vital for you, the KICentral Universe, to make a difference once again.

What can you do? Be there!

When: Feb 8, 2010, protest assembly begins at 5:00pm and council meeting begins at 7:00
Where: 4000 Mason-Montgomery Rd. Mason, OH 45040
What: We will begin our peaceful assembly at 5:00. Feel free to bring as many people as you can. Remember that what you are doing is important and will make a difference. anyone wishes to prepare a statement to present to council at the meeting has that right.

Will Mason vote yes as a way to recoup its mismanagement of funds, or will they show they truly care about the welfare of their business partners and vote not to impose an admissions tax? Be there February 8 and find out.

SANDUSKY, OHIO, December 16, 2009 -- Cedar Fair, L.P. (NYSE: FUN), a leader in regional amusement parks, water parks and active entertainment, announced today that it has entered into a definitive merger agreement to be acquired by an affiliate of Apollo Global Management, a leading global alternative asset manager.

Under the terms of the agreement, Cedar Fair unitholders will receive $11.50 in cash for each Cedar Fair limited partnership unit that they hold, representing a 43% premium over Cedar Fair’s volume weighted average closing unit price over the past 30 days and a 28% premium over the closing unit price on December 15, 2009. The transaction is valued at approximately $2.4 billion, including the refinancing of the Company’s outstanding indebtedness. Affiliates of J.P. Morgan, B of A Merrill Lynch, Barclays Capital Inc., UBS Investment Bank and KeyBanc Capital Markets have provided an aggregate $1.95 billion financing commitment in support of the transaction.

The board of directors of Cedar Fair has unanimously approved the merger agreement and has resolved to recommend that Cedar Fair limited partnership unitholders adopt the agreement.

Cedar Fair’s chairman, president and chief executive officer, Dick Kinzel, said, “We have considered a wide range of strategic alternatives over the past several years. After considering these strategic alternatives, we have concluded that the transaction with Apollo is in the best interest of our unitholders.”

“This transaction allows Cedar Fair unitholders to realize significant value from their investment in our Company over recent trading levels,” added lead director, Michael Kwiatkowski. “Apollo has a strong track record of growing businesses, and its desire to add Cedar Fair to its portfolio serves as a testament to our solid business model and the talent of our people.”
Aaron Stone, a Senior Partner at Apollo, said, “We are extremely pleased to be acquiring this premier amusement park operator. We look forward to partnering with Cedar Fair’s management team and employees to build on the many strengths of the Company. We are firmly committed to Cedar Fair’s continued growth as an industry leading amusement park operator.”
Transaction Details

The merger is conditioned upon, among other things, the approval of holders of two-thirds of Cedar Fair’s outstanding units, the receipt of regulatory approvals and other closing conditions. Assuming the satisfaction of these conditions, the transaction is expected to close by the beginning of the second quarter of 2010. The merger agreement does not include a financing condition. Upon completion of the merger, Cedar Fair will become a private company, wholly-owned by an affiliate of Apollo Global Management.
Under the terms of the merger agreement, Cedar Fair may solicit alternative proposals from third parties for 40 days and will consider any such proposals. There can be no assurance that the solicitation of such proposals will result in an alternative transaction. In addition, Cedar Fair may, at any time, subject to the terms of the merger agreement, respond to unsolicited proposals.

Rothschild Inc. and Guggenheim Securities, LLC are the Company’s financial advisors, and Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP and Squire, Sanders & Dempsey are its legal advisors. Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz and O’Melveny & Myers LLP acted as legal advisors and B of A Merrill Lynch, J.P. Morgan, Barclays Capital Inc., and UBS Investment Bank acted as financial advisors to Apollo Global Management in connection with the transaction.