Entertainment tax would hurt more than ticket sales

BOY, things are looking grim around here.

Toledo Mayor Mike Bell wants to impose a ticket tax on entertainment and sports events and to impose a refuse fee as part of his plan to wipe out the city's $48 million budget deficit.

Toledo Schools Superintendent John Foley targets sports and shutting Libbey High School as parts of his plan to eliminate a $30 million school district budget deficit. School officials say that they may hand out pink slips to more than 300 teachers, and that they want the rest to take pay cuts and pay more for their health insurance.

People who have endured job loss, home loss, salary decrease, a hike in health-care expenses, and other adverse effects of the economic downturn - that's everybody - aren't feeling empathy for the Toledo arts community that futilely tried to talk Mayor Bell out of his proposal for the 8 percent ticket tax.

Under that plan, it would cost another 80 cents for every $10 paid for an entertainment or sports ticket. People struggling to put food on their table and to pay their mortgage can't muster sympathy for anybody who goes to the opera, the symphony, a baseball game, or the theater, and who would refuse to pay 8 percent more for a ticket.

While it is thoroughly unfair to ask less-well-off residents to pay the same refuse fee as better-off residents, it certainly seems fairer for the arts community to shoulder the ticket tax. However, let's consider the possible impact of an 8 percent jump in the price of a ticket.

First, dispel the notion that only wealthy white people go to the Valentine Theatre, the Peristyle at the Toledo Museum of Art, Stranahan Theater, or another local venue to see a play, the opera, the symphony, or other events sometimes thought of as highfalutin. Not only blue-collar workers go to Fifth Third Field to see the Mud Hens, or to events at our shiny new Lucas County Arena.

It's tough to have sympathy for entertainment promoters who would refuse to come to Toledo if the city passes a ticket tax. But don't think their not coming wouldn't have an impact on you.

People who go to these events help the local economy. It's shortsighted to consider only the cost of a ticket. Ticket purchasers contribute to jobs.

When individuals, couples, or families plan special outings, they may buy new clothing and have a meal before, during, or after the event. Young couples with children may hire a baby sitter. Empty nesters and senior citizens may spend more money.

That might not seem like much. But if you work in a local restaurant that theater-goers frequent, or if you work in food service, or are a part of the setup, teardown, or janitorial crew, then the impact of a hike in ticket prices must not be dismissed. And let's not forget how much money men spend for tuxedos or women spend for gowns and dresses and at hair and nail salons for special occasions.

A myopic view about this issue makes us forget how desperately we want to attract business to Toledo. Without cultural events and venues, T-town would be far more bland than many of you think it is already. Without quality-of-life outlets, no corporation or business would relocate here. There would be nothing for its employees to do.

People who attend special events in Toledo directly and positively affect the city and its economy. It's a snowball effect. An increase in ticket prices would deplete that effect because, as we saw the warmer weather do this week, the snow would melt.

Rose Russell is a Blade associate editor.

Contact her at rrussell@theblade.com