Chester City Officials Mull New Entertainment Tax
By David Madden
CHESTER, Pa. (CBS) - City officials in Chester are floating the idea of adding a pair of taxes on the town's major attractions, the Philadelphia Union soccer team and Harrah's casino.
Mayor John Linder notes Chester's ongoing financial problems need some creative solutions. So he wants to slap a 10-percent entertainment tax on tickets to games and concerts and a 20-percent levy on paid parking.
"We need to make sure we exhaust every possibility… or look at all revenue streams…and this is one of them."
Mind you, that's not set in stone. He's been talking to both entities for some time to come up with a method everyone can agree to. The Union pays an annual host fee to the city and Harrah's pays a dedicated tax based on casino revenues.
Reports are the Union has put on hold plans to build a practice facility and an office building on the stadium site.
