Bill would tax Kentucky speedway admission
The proposal by Rep. Royce Adams, a Democrat from Dry Ridge, would enable fiscal courts in counties home to fewer than 10,000 residents and a privately owned entertainment venue with 50,000 or more seats to levy up to a 3 percent surcharge on tickets sold for events at that facility, according to the Legislative Research Commission.
Gallatin County would meet the eligibility criteria. According to 2008 U.S. Census Bureau estimates, it has about 8,000 residents. Kentucky Speedway has 66,089 permanent grandstand seats.
"It would certainly help Gallatin County if they were able to do that," Adams said. "Right now they get very little from the speedway. They furnish a lot of county services but they don't get anything in return."
The track opened in 2000, and in 2008 was sold to Speedway Motorsports Inc.
Bruton Smith, the chairman of SMI, is following House Bill 206. He did not sugarcoat his feelings about the proposed legislation in a phone interview this week.
"It won't matter one way or the other because we will not attempt to operate with something like that, if that should occur," he said.
Gallatin County Judge-executive Kenny French said Friday that he supports the concept of the bill and planned to speak with Adams to ask the legislature to pass it.
"I think it would be beneficial for the county to assist us in providing additional services that's required when we have a large event in our community like this," French said. nky.cincinnati.com