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City approves admission tax expansion

Tax covers ferries, campgrounds.

By BRANDI BARHITE
brandibarhite@sanduskyregister.com

SANDUSKY - City Manager Mike Will celebrated his first year on the job Monday, as well as the passage of his tax plan.

With Brett Fuqua sealing the deal, Sandusky City Commission approved on first reading to expand the 3 percent admission tax to include campgrounds and ferries, and gradually increase the boat tax from $10 to $25. Commissioners also decided to get rid of the city's income tax credit.

"I want it to be fair and this is fair," Fuqua said after the vote.

Like before, Ex officio Mayor Mike Kresser and commissioners Suanne Brown and Leroy Sizemore voted for the taxes, while Vice Mayor Dan Kaman and commissioners Dannie Edmon and Dave Waddington remained against the taxes.

In April, Fuqua voted against the plan because he thought introducing the taxes this close to the tourist season was unfair.

When he was running for office in 2003, he rallied against the city's parking tax and later helped repeal it.

Monday, Fuqua said he didn't change his mind from two years ago because the parking tax targeted Cedar Point, which is what he was against. These taxes are broad-based, and go into effect January 2006, giving companies times to adjust prices if necessary, he said.

Cedar Point spokesman Robin Innes said suing the city is "always a possibility," and the company would review the new tax plan. Cedar Point threatened to sue when the city first introduced the taxes in January.

Innes said the park still believes it pays more than its fair share in taxes, but this tax plan is more broad-based. Cedar Point has campgrounds and marinas.

Monday, Will said with the taxes, the city will be able to move forward on its strategic plan -- one of the subjects he highlighted during his "year in review." Will became manager June 1, 2004.

With the taxes, the more than $300,000 generated annually would pay for projects like developing blighted properties within city limits, putting in a beach at Lions Park and possibly relocating city hall.

Several other city projects were discussed during Monday's meeting:

• Chief City Planner Angie Byington presented information on the city applying for $3 million through the Clean Ohio Revitalization Fund to help develop the waterfront Paper District. The grant application will be available to read at the Sandusky Library starting June 24.

• Sandusky State Theatre Executive Director Terri Bergman spoke in favor of the city forming an entertainment district, which would allow the theater a special D5J permit.

Bergman said the opportunity to serve liquor would allow the theater to be more financially sound and less reliant on community foundations. Bergman said 97 percent of performing arts centers have full liquor licenses. The application for the community entertainment district is being submitted by the city on behalf of the Sandusky State Theatre.

• Will said the city is working on resolving concert noise issues with the new Sandusky Bay Pavilion. A possible solution could be turning the speakers in a different direction. The manager said with new development comes new problems.

FunCoast.com is your online guide to summer fun for Cedar Point, the LakeErie Islands and Sandusky area. Our site offers up-to-date information on area attractions, restaurants, hotels, gasoline prices, ferry schedules, swimming, birding and fishing, along with a complete listing of events happening in the Sandusky/Cedar Point area. To use our Webcam and zoom in on Cedar Point's rollercoasters, go to http://funcam.funcoast.com