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Toledo Family Ticket Tax Information

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Summary
The Mayor has brought an 8% tax on entertainment events in Toledo to City Council.  Almost all organizations that could be affected by this tax are nonprofit organizations. This includes the Toledo Mudhens/Walleye, Lucas County Arena, Toledo Zoo, Valentine Theatre, Stranahan Theatre, Toledo Symphony and Toledo Opera.The proposed ordinance even includes golf courses and movie theaters.

Scope of Tax
No information is available on the scope of the entertainment tax. The tax could potentially extended to charity fundraisers, church events and other grassroots initiatives.  Also, the city has not explained how the tax would be administered, whether it applies to events outside of Toledo.

Facts about how the tax would affect the TSO

  1. The tax is damaging to our nonprofit business in a time of economic uncertainty. The symphony has taken a severe hit in attendance and donations by the recession already
  2. The TSO has a significant economic impact on the region (in excess of $10 million), and 90% of the orchestra's $5.8 million operating budget is returned to the community through salaries, taxes and fees for services.
  3. According to the Lucas County Action Plan for the arena, each person who attends entertainment events has an $88.50 per capita impact on local business.  For example, a loss of 15% in TSO attendance would result in a  $609,438 loss to related businesses.
  4. A good portion of TSO attendees are retired people on fixed incomes, students and families.
  5. The TSO would probably have no choice but to pass the tax along to our audience.  This would be particularly hard, because we reduced prices last year, so that people affected by the recession could still attend concerts.
  6. The TSO employs 150 employees, musicians and staff who live and pay taxes in Toledo.  The musicians of the TSO took substantial wage and benefit cuts laxt year in range of 8-12%, so that the TSO could reamin solvent.  This tax would further jeopardize these jobs in our community.  As salaries decline, the city derives less benefit from the symphony and we risk losing talented and educated performers and teachers.

The TSO has a substantial positive economic impact on the City of Toledo.  This impact far outweighs the potential benefit of a tax on entertainment.

TO VOICE YOUR OPINION/CONCERN - Contact the mayor's office and members of city council

Toledo City Council - 419-245-1050

philip.copeland@toledo.oh.gov
joe.mcnamara@toledo.oh.gov

george.sarantou@toledo.oh.gov
adam.martinez@toledo.oh.gov;
rob.ludeman@toledo.oh.gov
wilma.brown@toledo.oh.gov
dmichael.collins@toledo.oh.gov
mike.craig@toledo.oh.gov 
michael.ashford@toledo.oh.gov 
tom.waniewski@toledo.oh.gov
lindsay.webb@toledo.oh.gov
Steven.Steel@toledo.oh.gov

Mayor's Office - 419-245-1001
mayor.toledo@toledo.oh.gov
Steve.Herwat@toledo.oh.gov