Let's get Serious About Finding Money for the State

From initial reports it appears that the 2015 Jazz and Heritage Festival will once again post record attendance figures despite the high ticket prices.  However, since the state years ago granted tax-exempt status to the operators of the festival, the Jazz and Heritage Foundation, an opportunity to score some significant cash for the state has been missed yet again.

When questions arise about the wisdom of this tax-exemption status the foundation always responds with the pat answer that they attempt to keep the ticket prices as low as possible and that sales tax would raise those prices for customers.   Obviously that is just B.S. because they continue to deal with the Ticket Master Corporation for the sale of online tickets which adds a sizable surcharge to each ticket purchase.  In fact, that fee is higher than my proposed 4% state sales tax additional cost.  Apparently, the Foundation has no problem with the Ticket Master increase.

Besides I am not suggesting that they pass the sales tax on to the customer, just pay it out of their profits.  Last year over 435,000 attended.   If sales tax had been assessed on these ticket purchases alone, over $1.2 million would have flowed into the state coffer.   Not bad for a seven day event.

The same can be applied to the Mercedes Benz Superdome and the Audubon Nature Institute, both of which also enjoy a tax-free status.  The dome charges $8.00 to $9.00 for a beer and yet NO sales tax is assessed on that purchase or on any food purchased along with it.  Again pay the sales tax out of the $8.00.

Just think of all the revenue the Zoo, the Aquarium, the Jazz Festival, the Saint’s games, and concerts could generate to plug the $1.6 billion deficit.  Bet our legislators won’t touch these sacred cows, but they have no problems cutting health care and education.