One by one nearly all of the speakers seated at City Hall spoke in support of the new ticket tax proposal during a public hearing.

Many of those supporters wore “Protect Art 4 Columbus” stickers on their shirts.

They agree that a five percent tax on events and performances in Columbus is far better than the before proposed seven percent tax.

Some are still not completely sold.

“Broadway Across America thinks the arts community absolutely needs to be supported but we need to look around at what’s going on in the neighborhoods around us,” said Leslie Broecker who is the president of Broadway Across America Midwest.

Broecker believes this tax would hurt her efforts to attract certain Broadway shows to Columbus.

“The five percent ticket tax will put us at a competitive disadvantage with being able to get shows over other cities,” said Broecker.

Her company currently pays a facility fee on each ticket they sell and she says the five percent ticket tax would take even more out of the pockets of show producers.
That will make Columbus look less desirable for some Broadway shows.

“So when they’re looking at a city Indianapolis has zero tax, Louisville has zero tax, Cleveland is zero, Cincinnati is three,” said Broecker. “Where would you go?”

The first reading for this proposal is December 3 and council plans to vote on December 10.