The Crown Sports Center is asking every player, parent and/or guardian for their support. Many of you have read that Wicomico County is requiring the Crown to pay an amusement tax on all youth sports for children participating in events ages 18 months to eighteen years of age. However, other youth organizations like bowling, karate, cheer leading, volleyball, gymnastics, tennis, wrestling leagues, classes and businesses are not being accessed this tax. Why are they only taxing children playing in soccer, field hockey and lacrosse leagues and classes at the Crown Sports Center? Please know that the Crown pays all of the standard business and county taxes like other businessses in the county. What we do not want is to be singled out for this amusement tax on our youth sports. It is our facility intention to offer a safe haven with healthy activities for your children. In today's economy, it is difficult enough to keep costs down without adding additional fees onto youth sports. Now we are asking for your help. We are aking each of you to please contact these Wicomico County council members with letters, calls and/or emails. Thanking you in advance for your support from the staff of Crown Sports Center.
Wicomico County Council office: 410-548-4696
John Cannon, Council President Email: jtcannon@wicomicocounty.org
Stevie Prettyman, Council Vice-President Email: sprettyman@wicomicocounty.org
Matt Creamer, County Administrator Email: mcreamer@wicomicocounty.org
William McCain Email: wmccain@wicomicocounty.org
Shree Sample-Hughes Email: asamplehughes@wicomicocounty.org
Joe Holloway Email: jholloway@wicomicocounty.org
David MacLeod Email: mac603@comcast.net
Gail Bartkovich Email: gbartkovich@wicomicocounty.org
It should be noted, (in case you didn't watch the PAC 14 Council Meeting yesterday) that I fully support the Crown Center and its relief from such amusement taxes. More importantly, I support the relief of a punishment tax, (not an amusement tax) against children under 18 years old.
Some have used words like, this is another "Bailout." To those IDIOTS who stand behind such a statement, Bailouts go to Corporate Officers in the billions. RELIEF goes to children under 18 years old and its about damn time they got some relief! Contact your Council Members and let them know how much you support the Crown Center. My personal belief is, they don't have young children who would take advantage of such a facility, therefore they've forgotten where they came from.
People come from all over the East Coast to play in tournaments at the Crown. They stay in local Hotel Rooms, eat at local restaurants and help this local economy. They open their doors for ALL local Schools in need of a practice field when it's raining, hence the Bennett Soccer Team just last week. Remember when the breast cancer people were going to hold their event at the Shorebirds Stadium and the rain canceled it. The Hearne Family from Crown opened their doors immediately and the event went on. There are tons of stories just like these tat many of you know and should share. STOP PUNISHING CHILDREN BECAUSE THEY LIKE SPORTS! DROP THE AMUSEMENT TAX NOW!
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46 comments:
You don't get it, Crown Sports Ctr is a big nail in the coffin to Gary Mackes empire his whole recreation dept needs some severe cut backs. Mr. Mackes makes over 150,000.00 per year plus the best benefits and a free car.
If they don't want to pay the amusement tax, why did they add laser tag and arcade games?
Please don't confuse business with non-profit. Crown plays an important role in the recreation of children, but they are a for-profit business. Recreational leagues, like the county's, are non-profit. Yes, there are gray areas in the consideration of the two, but for-profits need taxation. I'm not a wealthy homeowner, but I don't ask the town or county to excuse my tax payment because I abide the law, cut my grass, and support my kids' activities in the community.
I too support the exemption for Crown. How many children will be effected by this. If amusement tax be the case veryone playing in any league should have to pay the same fee.
The Crown doesn't make a proffit Mr. Holloway. Nowhere near a proffit.
The request to remove the amusement tax is on leage play for children under 18, not laser tag.
Dear Council President and Council Members:
I fully support the Crown Center and its relief from such amusement taxes. The Hearne family has created one of the nicest places that I have been to for children playing soccer, basketball, Lacrosse, Field Hockey, and even for dog agility. This establishment helps keep our children off the streets out of trouble, and doing something in a nice healthy environment. The amount of revenue that this facility brings in for the county is also phenomenal. For example, when we hold our agility trials, we have people come from as far as Florida, California, and several other states. All of these people have to stay at our hotels and eat at our restaurants, and buy gas to go home. If Ocean City can give Trimper relief from taxes, I would certainly think that this is something that the Wicomico County Council would look at very seriously. Because as we all know, if you add those taxes to the Hearne's, they have to pass them on to the people using their facility. And if the prices become too high, people will not be able to use the facility, and Wicomico County could end up losing one of the best things that has happened to them in a long time.
Screw Gary Mackes, he is the biggest burden on the county and should be sent packing. He's another Barrie Tilghman, tax and spend, spend, spend until there is nothing left to spend then we tax, tax, tax so Gary Mackes can get what he wants.
OMG, the appearance of a successful enterprise in this county, is just way too obscene! Absolutely, they should be crippled with taxes till they fold & get out of town.
As for the children, ah, we'll beg the state to fund some program or something.
Bill Hearne and Tom Meadows stepped up when Nets/Layton's was being sold to provide this area with an indoor sports facility. I was part of an informal committee to explore options to replace Nets/Layton's before Bill and Tom stepped in. Our first stop was the County Rec. Department who stated it was too expensive, there was nothing they could do. I understood this and accepted it knowing such a facility would cost millions. They did acknowlege there was a need and hoped private enterprise would fill the gap. Well, Bill and Tom did just that. I coach 4 soccer teams at the Crown (2 of which are "house" teams), served on the Wicomico County Soccer Federation as a board member and serve as the current President of the Salisbury Skatepark Committee. I am a huge supporter of youth sports. These kids NEED the excercise year round. I realize the Crown is a for profit entity but commend the owners for filling the need when the County did not have the financial means to do so. This facility is used by hundreds if not thousands of kids every week. It is now time for the County to step up and support the Crown and the youth in this community in the same way Bill and Tom stepped up to support the area youth when they opened this facility. I know for a fact that Bill and Tom did not undertake this venture just to make a profit.
Craig Brock
Crown Amusement Tax Exemption Supporter
The Crown facility should not be charged this tax. This is the most wonderful facility of its kind in the country. Thousands of children use this facility for a variety of recreational sports. It wonderful on a day like this where kids can go inside and play sports of all kinds. I would rather have them playing sports and exercising than playing video games at home.
Crown fills a void that the County can not provide in any economic times. A large indoor and outdoor facility in a central location for many sports. I applaud Mr. Hearne for his vision and Mike Mercer for the tremendous job they do. I wish there had been a facility like this when I was young.
It is a local treasure and we should do whatever is needed to help the owners. They have provided a facility and all they need is a little consideration on a tax that does not apply here. Movies and Civic Center shows are what this tax is intended for. This is recreation and not entertainment. Our youth are the future and we need to help them succeed.
Messages to asamplehughes@wicomicocounty.org,
sjtcannon@wicomicocounty.org,
prettyman@wicomicocounty.org
are bouncing back, unable to be delivered, so I guess we will need to write them via US mail.
If they want to tax the arcade games and laser tag fine but not everything else..Next thing you know they will tax cub scouts and boy scouts for getting together having fun playing games and learning something.
Punishing children? Jeez. Hyperbole much?
Put your message to them RIGHT HERE. Believe me, they all read this Blog.
Why didn't they make it a 503c? They they could have enjoyed non profit status and solicited donations.... I mean it's not about money right?
joe, just because they are not making a profit doesnt mean they aren't a for-profit business. they got in a little deeper than they thought and have yet to break even...not the best business model. i fully support youth sports. i grew up in salisbury playing at the complex, optimist and little league baseball and I now coach rec soccer and little league baseball.
im a bit suprised by your stance on this issue. Not knowing or not understanding a confusing tax is not an excuse to not pay it.
anon 9:23
i may be wrong but i think they have firewalls on their email accounts. most of the county big whigs do so that they general public cant send them emails....
This is absolute CRAP! Can't anyone do any good in this town without being punished in someway?
I know the state,county,city are all seeing financial shortfalls but this is NOT AN ANSWER!
I urge everyone to forward this to everyone in there mailing lists and OVERWELMING let the county know that this is C R A P !!!!
VERY ANGRY LACROSSE DAD!,
Most tax is bad tax.
It is not up to the county or state to entertain our children.
Having a government entity to do so is a huge waste of money.
A private for profit company such as Crown is filling the need in the area, and doing so appropriately.
If the county thinks they are missing out on some revenue by not getting this tax from them. They better think about how much it will cost them if this business pulls up stakes and leaves.
You can't tell me that dozens of parents stop in the Walmart, the gas stations and the nearby restaurants on a daily basis.
How much will their business go down if they didn't have Crown as neighbors.
Oh and lets not forget that the owners took an eyesore building and re utilized it and made it's empty hulk a functioning part of the community once again.
People need to wake up.
Crown is a business and by all accounts seems to have paid its usual business taxes, well all but one... This was clearly an error on Crown's part. Pay the back amusement taxes, and if need be do it over time, but pay what is owed. Then do what's necessary to repeal the amusement tax going forward. End of story.
wymzie, your comment sums it up and hits the nail right on the head. I agree with you 100%.
Wymzie, Excellent Post!!!This is about and for children.
Tell Richard Chapman to pay back his stolen salary to the Crown Center to pay for this obsene tax!
This county will give out money like candy to fire departments without any sort of oversight but they tax a child's playground.
It is about the liberal stronghold and government control. They just can't let go without having some type of control over every situation.
Wymize good post.If the heads dont want them then maybe Demar Del. will make room for them.
Well you may see this all unfold on WBOC as I have been contacted (after forwarding this to Mrs. Harrington at WBOC) to do an interview at 12:30 today at Crown. If anyone else wants to come down to speak with Mrs. Harrington about this matter I am sure she would be open to your comments as she has been mine.
Lets see just how well robbing our youth is received by the people of this town.
Where they required to pay this tax all along, or is this new? Regardless, it looks to me like the Crown Sports Center is being fined for competing with a Governement entity, the Dept of Rec & Parks.
Mr. Hearne need only look at Diamond Dreams in Delmar, MARYLAND, for an example of a facility serving children that is non-profit.
anon 11:55
Is something wrong about being for profit? Furthermore, what city/county taxes do non-profits pay?
Here is a copy of what I sent:
Dear Sir or Madam,
I would like to express my concerns about the fact Wicomico County is assessing an Amusement Tax on Youth participating in Sports that are between the ages of 18 months, and 18 years of Age, and not collecting the Same tax for Bowling, Karate, Cheer leading, volleyball, gymnastics, tennis, wrestling leagues. It seems very unfair that these fee's would not be extended to cover all Youth Sports, or better still no not be extended to any youth sports. Why would you collect additional Fee's for Youth Sports, in a struggling economy, for Events which encourage Teamwork, Leadership, loyalty, and possibly exclude participates who can barely afford the Events without fee's. Do we really want to Encourage more American Children to stay at home, and play Video Games, or worse, remain completely idle, and continue to fall behind the rest of world on health. The Youth of Today need more support than ever, and not more fee's for there Parents to pay to keep them active. This new "Connected" generation has more access to Technology, Communication, and media than ever before, and there has been less and less focus placed on Physical Activity, Sports, and Team Participation. I can tell you from Personal Experience, that the some of the Absolute Best lessons in Leadership, overcoming challenges, time management, dedication, social interaction and teamwork came from my participation in Youth Sports in Wicomico County. My Question to the Council is, "Why discourage Youth Sports in Wicomico County by forcing Fee's, taxes, and other financial Burdens on the voting Population that has seen a Shrinking Economy, inflation, decreased job security, Federal Bailouts of Banking, Housing, Insurance firms, and encourage these Folk to do nothing, or take there children outside the county, or move to an Area that encourages Sports, and Community?
In closing, I would like to leave you with a Winston Churchill quote, "We contend that for a nation to try to tax itself into prosperity is like a man standing in a bucket and trying to lift himself up by the handle"
Kristen Carper Wheatley
443-359-1389
OK, but next every medical center and dentist will want to be exempt from some type of tax; they are also helping kids.
Why not make it a non-profit buisness?
I have 2 daughters that for recreation take dance lessons. In addition, perform occasionally in social events. I for one have never heard of this tax on recreation, amusement tax yes, video games, etc. I have to ask what's the difference between soccer and dance when it comes to recreation other than the fact by percentage more boys are involved in soccer and more girls in dance.
Kristen,
The county isnt trying to discourage youth sports. They are simply trying to enforce the tax code. Since when is that such a bad thing? So Crown shouldnt be held responsible for not knowing some of their programs fell under this amusement tax? Please, personal responsibility goes a long way these days.
Chad
Youth Sports should not be considered an amusement! That is what everyone is saying! The video Arcade, the Laser Tag, yes. But not Soccer, Lacrosse, Field Hockey, etc.
Do the Movie Theaters pay this Amusement Tax?
Chad,
Crown is not stating that they did not understand the law, they are simply asking for relief.
But are they not asking for relief because they were operating for so long not knowing they had to pay this amusement tax? How else do you explain the $23,000 in penalties, along with the $75,000 in taxes that they have yet to pay. Im sure if they knew about this tax upfront (or werent trying to weasel out of it) they could have budgeted for this tax along the way rather than have this huge sum to pay now. Offer them a payment plan and let them pay it off over time.
Im not saying I agree with the tax. I dont agree with the majority of taxes. Like a previous poster said, any tax is a bad tax. All Im saying is that if you are going to put millions into a business know what you're getting into. -chad
Come to Delmar Delaware and purchase the land the old drive in theater sat on and build your facility there.
It's already zoned commercial I believe.
Lower taxes in Delaware. Friendlier elected officials in Delmar, obviously...and Delmar does NOT have an amusement tax!!!!
Bring it on!!!
Yes, 9:37 AM, it IS punishing children. Maybe you haven't noticed, but times are tight right now. Adding an amusement tax makes the price the parents have to pay higher when most of us are already struggling to make ends meet (and many are losing the battle. The house behind me is in foreclosure because the owners can't make their $350 a month house payments). The extra tax could very well push the price up just enough that some parents would not be able to afford to let their kids go there. Here we have a wonderful resource for kids, and adding onto the price to play could keep a lot of kids from being able to participate.
they are not ADDING a tax. This tax, as stupid as it may be, was in place before Crown began operating. They should have known about it and budgeted for it. If they didnt agree with it, maybe ask to have it appealed while still in good standing and not oweing $100k
Hearnes:
Move it to Salisbury and you can get a TIF subsidy like that old mall.
Crown is a non-profit business? Then why do parents pay $144 for 12 weeks of soccer, compared to less than $50 for the same programs at the Y or Rec League? They must be making a profit! I agree the tax is rediculous and I don't think they should have to pay it - but I can't go as far as to say I feel sorry for them financially!
See what happens when somebody makes a difference and gives kids an option to hanging the streets? The gobberment will tax you for those good deeds. I doubt jail is cheaper. Good Luck Hearnes, you've always done your part to try and make a difference in our community.
$144 for 12 weeks is only $12 a week, who's getting rich on that? If it's outdoors the grass has to manacured if it's indoors in the winter they need heat? One person can buy a heart attack from Mickey "D's" for that kind of dough. Might get you two Latte's at Starbucks.
Amusement tax for arcade games and laser tag is one thing,but tax ONLY those things and leave sports and recreation alone!Sounds like the county is afraid of some competition-seems private enterprise can do ANYTHING better and cheaper than government entities if given the chance,and the county is ticked off over it!This type of thing is EXACTLY why many communities have no place for kids to go to!I live too far away from Fruitland to take my child to Crown but luckily we have a local soccer program here in Somerset County-the Salvation Army Youth Club in Crisfield.My daughter plays indoor soccer there in the summertime and the coaches are local people who give alot of their time and themselves to make it possible.
I may not live in Wicomico anymore,but I still think the county is being petty about this whole affair-the Crown center took an empty eyesore of an abandoned property and turned it into something positive for the community-and they continue to help the local community.If Trimpers can get tax breaks then surely Crown is deserving of one.
We have a 4 million dollar white elephant here in Snow Hill. It could have leagues but the director must not be able to figure out how to start leagues. I understand the woman that ran our county outdoor league for years is running the soccer at Crown. The county should hire her back to get some use out of this big empty building I drive by every day.
The Crown should pay the amusement tax. I tried to find a reading of the law. Where would I find it. Hearn should pay tax or close it down. Maybe then the county recreation failities will get used. No typo...failities.
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