WALLINGFORD, CT (CelebrityAccess) — Lawmakers in Connecticut have renewed their bid to add the Toyota Oakdale Theatre to the list of venues in that are exempt from the state's admission tax.
According to the Wallingford Record-Journal, Rep. Mary Mushinsky, D-Wallingford, re-introduced a bill with Reps. Vincent Candelora, R-North Branford, and Liz Linehan, D-Cheshire that would free the Live Nation-managed venue from the 10 percent admissions tax, which goes towards the State's general fund.
“I’m not in support of fees being on a selective basis,” said Candelora, per the Journal-Record. “We should have a broader statewide policy.”
Mushinsky unsuccessfully proposed a similar measure in the legislature last year.
The Oakdale has been on the hook for the admissions tax since 1998 and while non-profit organizations such as universities are exempt, a growing list of for-profit Connecticut facilities have also been exempted, including XL Center in Hartford and Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport. The controversial and yet-to-be-finished Dunkin Donuts Stadium in Hartford also earned an exemption and officials in Bridgeport are seeking similar status for Harbor Yard.
At the same time, the state has been struggling with a deep budget shortfall of at least 1.3 billion and has announced significant cuts to a variety of programs, including education, public services and support for municipalities in the state.
The state collected $13.7 million from the admissions tax in the fiscal year 2015, the Journal-Record reported.
