Attractions fret possible Mason tax

[CoastersRZ]

From the Cincinnati Enquirer.

I`ll abstain my comments on this subject for a while, and let others chime in before adding my personal insights on this subject.

[Guest kwindshawne]

Where does it all end? I understand the need to generate funds for upkeep on roads etc., but I think we are taxed beyond belief as it is.

I know its too late to do something like this here, but in California they have a statute called Mello Roos. Basically, it is a monthly real estate tax that is added in to your escrow. California saw the sprawl that was taking place, and the cities realized they could no longer maintain so much property, so this was enacted. It is basically added in to the newer developments and makes the homeowners associations responsible for maintaining their own streets, sewers, etc. Even though I wasn't there long enough to see the long term result, to me it looked like a good idea and seemed to work very well.

[Lake54321]

Already been posted about here... Seems the Enquirer is 5 days behind on news.

http://www.KICentral.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=11523

[Guest kwindshawne]

One last thought-KI appears to me to be nearly self sufficient anyway. With the exception of a major incident like the SOB accident, and water and sewage, they can handle their own problems-fire, police, and minor medical issues.

I have received tax credits from other cities I have worked in as well-if the % was different, I just had to pay the difference...but to me to be double taxed is a crock anyway.

[KI-ORIG-EMP]

Before Kings Island was annex by Mason, the township and county provited all the services such as road, fire, police, water, ect. There was no service that Mason could provide that KI was already receiving. All Mason sees is the $$$$ they can get by taxing all the income of all employees, both full and seasonal. This is nothing but greed on the part of Mason. They grab all buisinesses and then tax them. Mason alsos nix pix that they annex. They grabed KI but left out the hamlet of Kings Mills. When Mason annexed Kings Island and the surrounding areas, they knew going in that THEY will be responsible for providing ALL services and pay for them. Now some greedy members of council are crying about this increased cost and are threatening that an amusment tax must be charged to make up the difference. I have an ideal: How about Kings Island succed from Mason and rejoin the township?

Mike

[CoastersRZ]

The article claims that the admission tax would be to fund infrastructure upgrades around the parks. I`m not exactly sure if Kings Island Drive is the responsibility of the city or the county (my hunch tells me it is the city), but I can`t imagine any infrastructure alterations that would have to be done soon. Its not like the roads immediately surrounding Kings Island are in bad shape, or are constantly clogged with traffic in the summer months.

Now, Kings Island does rely on the Mason Police Department for outside support sometimes. It is not uncommon to see Mason police cars patrolling the parking lot. Additionally, if the park needs to call in an ambulance, they will bring in the Mason Fire Department. Kings Island`s fire department and police department simply are not large enough to handle anything but the most basic needs and be the first respondents to any incident within the park.

The threat of the admissions tax to Kings Island (and The Beach) is a real issue. If the tax is applied to the admission tickets it means two things. Either the park doesn`t raise ticket prices and Cedar Fair receives less revenue from each ticket, because a portion of each ticket would go to paying the tax. Or, more likely, Kings Island would raise ticket prices by the amount of the tax, and the burden of paying the tax would be passed on entirely to the paying general public. As a result of higher ticket prices, attendance could be negatively impacted.

And I do believe that with all the urban sprawl that is going on in communities, it is sometimes hard for them to keep up with maintaining all the essential services of a city. However, it is not like Kings Island just opened a few years ago. It has been around now for thirty five years. (The Beach has been around for more than twenty years as well). The amount of growth that the Mason area has seen because of Kings Island is partly the reason why that area has become so highly populated. Should Kings Island be penalized because they`re the ones that ignited this growth? Or should the specific new property owners that are buying the houses have to fork over some of the infrastructure costs? I agree more with the latter than the former.

[The Interpreter]

And remember, Paramount Parks ASKED to be annexed into Mason.

And now you see the thanks the new owner gets...

[The Interpreter]

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/art...EWS01/305160105

[WooferBearATL]

And remember, Paramount Parks ASKED to be annexed into Mason.

And now you see the thanks the new owner gets...

You've got to be kidding. I so did not know that Paramount asked to be annexed.

Man, and we thought that Mr. K was crazy.

[Avatar]

They did but they had a verbal agreement with Mason that they would not impose such a tax, well the new Mason administration said that was with the old administration.

Remember over a year ago they wanted to institute this tax to cover the short fall the city would lose when/if they rolled back their tax on out of county workers which was basically a double tax on its citizens that other municipalities do not normally do. Their was a fuss put up back then so now a year latter they need the tax to cover roads and services. Mason needs to be up front and honest with their intensions of why they really need the tax and explain what they are doing with the tax revenue windfall that they receive from the parks already. Then and only then is when they should even consider this tax to impose on out of town visitor.

[hamoperator]

One last thought-KI appears to me to be nearly self sufficient anyway. With the exception of a major incident like the SOB accident, and water and sewage, they can handle their own problems-fire, police, and minor medical issues.

I have received tax credits from other cities I have worked in as well-if the % was different, I just had to pay the difference...but to me to be double taxed is a crock anyway.

From what I've seen of their equiptment, CF @ Kings Island does not own a Class A pumper or Tower to facilitate their own working fires or high altitude rescues. They own a small mini-pumper next to Fairly Odd Coaster. I would have to say they are dependent on Mason for Mutual aid; but that is no reason to tax people of the park.

As for the Mason Police; has anyone noticed them sitting there at closing and refusing to assist CF patrons on exiting the lot? The traffic lights are set on flash cycle! They could get out of their cruisers and manually operate the light to help empty the park out, instead of take your own chance on going through the lights.