Post by TOO $ on Jul 27, 2018 9:45:20 GMT -5
I won't post all of the discussion, just the comments from Dave Frey. You can read the whole thing here.
Mr. Bruguiere noted that the proposed amendment would enact a 5% admissions tax for spectator events
in Nelson County at which admission greater than $1 is charged; including exemptions. He then opened
the public hearing and the following persons were recognized:
1. Dave Frey, LOCKN Promoter
Mr. Frey spoke against the proposed ordinance and he noted that events created commerce and that was
well proven. He added that the Charlottesville Pavilion brought tens of thousands of people downtown
to eat and shop and Albemarle County had no admissions tax. He noted that conversely, Elmwood Park
in Roanoke had a 5% tax and they were not doing so great. He added that Roanoke used the
entertainment tax to invest back into the entertainment industry and Elmwood Park was built with that
tax money. He noted it was the same in Nashville, there was a 10% tax there and fewer artists were
playing there now. He noted that if implemented, the tax should be kept in the same silo and attached to
a related service or building related to entertainment.
Mr. Frey advised that Artists demanded a share of the gross and they would compare venues based on
how much they could make and decide where to play. He added it was not a good idea to implement the
tax. He noted that LOCKN launched in 2014 and he referenced a fact sheet that showed the beneficial
financial effects of their event on the community; with no burden on the County for services. He noted
that their traffic plan cost almost $800,000 for 5 years and that water had been an issue and they have
had to truck water in from elsewhere. He added that they had spent $800,000 on water because they had
to put in their own system. He noted there was also no septic and waste had to be hauled away and they
had built the largest septic tank in Nelson County that could store 200,000 gallons of waste. He further
noted that there were many other things paid for to Nelson County vendors as well as the charity funds
that they had raised. Mr. Frey noted that people came to the County, spent money, and left. He noted
they would like to do a second LOCKN and at all levels, having a tax like this diminished peoples’
appetites to do events. He asked the Board to imagine trying to collect this tax at places like Rapunzel’s
in Lovingston. He concluded by noting that LOCKN was still in the red, they were done investing, and
needed to make a profit in 2018.
Mr. Bruguiere noted that the proposed amendment would enact a 5% admissions tax for spectator events
in Nelson County at which admission greater than $1 is charged; including exemptions. He then opened
the public hearing and the following persons were recognized:
1. Dave Frey, LOCKN Promoter
Mr. Frey spoke against the proposed ordinance and he noted that events created commerce and that was
well proven. He added that the Charlottesville Pavilion brought tens of thousands of people downtown
to eat and shop and Albemarle County had no admissions tax. He noted that conversely, Elmwood Park
in Roanoke had a 5% tax and they were not doing so great. He added that Roanoke used the
entertainment tax to invest back into the entertainment industry and Elmwood Park was built with that
tax money. He noted it was the same in Nashville, there was a 10% tax there and fewer artists were
playing there now. He noted that if implemented, the tax should be kept in the same silo and attached to
a related service or building related to entertainment.
Mr. Frey advised that Artists demanded a share of the gross and they would compare venues based on
how much they could make and decide where to play. He added it was not a good idea to implement the
tax. He noted that LOCKN launched in 2014 and he referenced a fact sheet that showed the beneficial
financial effects of their event on the community; with no burden on the County for services. He noted
that their traffic plan cost almost $800,000 for 5 years and that water had been an issue and they have
had to truck water in from elsewhere. He added that they had spent $800,000 on water because they had
to put in their own system. He noted there was also no septic and waste had to be hauled away and they
had built the largest septic tank in Nelson County that could store 200,000 gallons of waste. He further
noted that there were many other things paid for to Nelson County vendors as well as the charity funds
that they had raised. Mr. Frey noted that people came to the County, spent money, and left. He noted
they would like to do a second LOCKN and at all levels, having a tax like this diminished peoples’
appetites to do events. He asked the Board to imagine trying to collect this tax at places like Rapunzel’s
in Lovingston. He concluded by noting that LOCKN was still in the red, they were done investing, and
needed to make a profit in 2018.
)... as will the friendships that I have made here...
