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http://www.omniture.com --> Sections Home Page Local News AP News Archives Business Classifieds Event Calendar Forums Life Opinion Obituaries Photo Gallery Readers Photo Gallery Sports Tempo Weather Special Coverage 2006 Britt Festivals --> Shop Our Valley AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Search Our Valley Special Sections Distinctly Northwest Readers' Choice Homelife Magazine Joy Magazine Holiday Guide Oregon Golf Info Oregon Wine Info Other Publications Local Links Ashland News eSouthernOregon Newspapers In Education Personals Moving Here Movie Listings TV Listings Volunteer Customer Service Advertise With Us Media Kit Place Classified Ad Contact Us FAQ's Home Delivery Site Map --> Email Story to a Friend November 26, 2006 J-ville ticket tax plan draws fire By Sanne Specht Mail Tribune JACKSONVILLE — The city's proposed tax on concert tickets and other events has hit a sour note with Britt managers. A $2 tax would be levied on any ticket sold for $15 or more by any entity within the city. Based on a review of Britt ticket sales, the tax would net the city $130,000 annually, said City Administrator Paul Wyntergreen. The money would be used to maintain and improve Jacksonville parks and visitor services, he said. The new fee is an unfair levy with "disastrous potential" for the nonprofit Britt Festivals, said executive director Ron McUne. Britt Festivals already contributes $10 million annually to the local economy, said McUne, who will leave Britt Dec. 8. "I don't want to see something like this bring (Britt) to its knees," he said. "People are already hollering that Britt tickets are too high." Advertisement In addition to the myriad of other expenses driving ticket prices skyward, Jackson County has added its own $3 per-ticket tax, McUne said. Jacksonville's tax may become the tipping point for some patrons, he said "If ticket sales go down, we're in a rock and a hard place because there is positively no money coming in from the county (other than the $3 ticket fee that goes for Britt maintenance)," McUne said. Jacksonville's admission tax would apply to other entities besides Britt, including the Chamber of Commerce "Bingo Night," said Wyntergreen. "Does it have a direct impact on Britt? Of course," he said. "But it is for general revenue purposes. Yes, they are the primary player. But there is no direct correlation to Britt." Wyntergreen said Britt ticket prices continue to rise annually. A $2 fee allocated for the benefit of the venue's host city should not break Britt's bank, he said. "It's a bit of a weak argument," said Wyntergreen. "They have been breaking their own (attendance) records consistently." McUne said ticket sales currently cover only 65 percent of concert costs. The rest comes from grants, sponsorships, memberships and volunteers, he said. "Ninety-nine percent of our concerts lose money," McUne said. "People think we are making all this money on concerts. That's a fallacy that's misunderstood by a lot of people." Jacksonville's tax would generate almost 50 percent of the city's annual budget for parks and visitor services — which includes the Jacksonville Woodlands, the skateboard park, city offices, the community center and other entities that have nothing to do with Britt, said McUne. The proposed fee is part of an economic development strategy designed to increase the duration of visitor stays, Wyntergreen said. "We're trying to get people to linger longer," he said. "The better our parks and visitor services are, the longer people will stay and the better that is for our overall economy." A public hearing on the proposed tax will be held at 7 p.m. Dec. 5 at Old City Hall in Jacksonville. Would you like to respond to this story? If so Click Here to visit our forums. Advertisement Copyright © 1997-2006 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback online casinos news Home Security Systems Online Casino Reviews Men's Clothing Fundraisers UK Homeowner Loans Discount Hotel Reservations Send Flowers Casinos Canada Texas Electric Choice Compare Electric rates in Texas Windermere Van Vleet Trunks, Footlocker Online poker at AbsolutePoker.com