MASON, Ohio -- Hundreds of people are expected to show up at a city council meeting in Mason Monday night about the proposed admission tax at Kings Island.
The proposed tax is three percent on admission and five percent on parking. That would add about $1.50 to one Kings Island ticket and 50 cents to parking.
The people who run Kings Island aren't worried about what it means to one ticket, they're worried about how it will add up for a whole family and large groups.
The General Manager of Kings Island, Greg Sheid says, the tax would turn people away.
"Any additional fee that they would have to pay to come here could be the difference of them (visitors) coming and not coming so it will have an impact not only on our attendance but on the number of how many people go to the local hotels, how many people shop at the stores and how many people go to restaurants in the surrounding areas," said Sheid.
Sheid says there is an admission tax at two of Cedar Fair's 10 parks. He says when it was imposed at Ceder Point in Sandusky, there was a drastic drop in attendance.
Councilman Tony Bradburn, who proposed the tax, tells 9News he'll give an explanation of his proposal at the meeting.
Bradburn says he doesn't believe that the tax would lead to a drop in attendance at Kings Island. "I really don't believe that at all," he says.
Sheid says in 1997 Mason leaders promised Kings Island the city would not implement an admission tax.
"When Kings Island annexed into the city of Mason (from Deerfield Township) it should be known that Mason said to Kings Island, come to our city, you don't ever have to fear an admissions tax," says Sheid.
Bradburn says "If someone promised them then they were working outside the bounds of their elected office."
"We have had communication with our law director that council can not bind future councils by saying there would not be a tax," says Bradburn.
For the people who say the economy is too bad to ask people to pay more, Bradburn says there's never a good time to add a tax.
Kings Island is now using its sign, Facebook, and Twitter to help fight the proposed taxes. The sign at the amusement park now reads, "Mason Wants To Tax You! Tell Them No!" They are encouraging fans to call (513)229-8500 or email council@masonoh.org and tell them no.
Proponents of the of the plan say the taxes are need for road improvements and fire and police services related to attractions at the park.
Citizens will each get about two minutes to speak at the meeting which begins at 7 p.m. at the Mason Municipal Center on Mason Montgomery Road.
What do you think about the proposed tax plan? Let us know in the comment section below.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
