State Of Kentucky Nukes Ark Encounter: No Further Sales Tax Incentives As Of 28 June, 2017

[hatrack]

https://ffrf.org/images/FFRFArkRecords_7.21.2017.pdf

EDIT

Quick summary: The Creationists behind Ark Encounter initially said they were building a for-profit attraction in order to get a lot of perks, including a tourism-related tax rebate from the state of Kentucky worth more than $18 million over ten years. But after the city of Williamstown said they would add a 50-cent surcharge to all tickets to pay for a safety fee, Ken Ham‘s team sold Ark Encounter to their own non-profit, Crosswater Canyon, because religious ministries are exempt from that kind of tax.

Earlier today, the Freedom From Religion Foundation announced that they had sent a letter to the Kentucky Tourism, Arts, and Heritage Cabinet notifying them that, because of the sale and new non-profit status, Ark Encounter is violating the terms of the tax rebate deal. Guess what? They didn’t need to do that. Because three days ago, a lawyer for the Kentucky Tourism, Arts, and Heritage Cabinet sent a letter to the lawyer for Ark Encounter saying the exact same thing.

"It has come to our attention that your client, Ark Encounter, LLC, is in breach of its Tourism Development Agreement… with the Commonwealth. On July 10, 2017, the Tourism, Arts, and Heritage Cabinet… became aware of a quit claim deed transferring the Ark Project land, with all the privileges and appurtenances to the same, from Ark Encounter, LLC, a for profit company, to Crosswater Canyon, Inc. a non-profit company.

Furthermore, as a the Tourism Development Agreement is between the Commonwealth and Ark Encounter, LLC, not Crosswater Canyon, LLC, the current owner, please be advised that no further incentives may accrue from sales tax imposed on sales generated by or arising at the tourism development project, as of the date of transfer of the property, June 28, 2017.

That last bolding is the state’s. They’re saying the deal is over as of June 28. Ark Encounter can reap the benefits of the tax rebate based on attendance up to that point (less than a year into its existence), but that’s it.

EDIT

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2017/07/21/kentucky-officials-have-ended-the-18-million-tax-rebate-deal-with-ark-encounter/

[Adrahil]

1. Praise the lard!!! NT

[hatrack]

2. And pass the pie crust!

[Adrahil]

4. I can't wait to see what Ham says now!

[hatrack]

5. "It's them atheists! Them secular hyoooooomanist atheists!!!"

[CincyDem]

6. In Airplane, wasn't he calling Peter Graves while he was talking to the Mayo Clinic.

"Give me Ham on five and hold the Mayo"

[GentryDixon]

3. And pass the biscuits.

[Missn-Hitch]

7. I wish they would stop persecuting American Christians.

Oh, the humanity!!

I was hoping to ride the mechanical stegosaurus.

[Shrike47]

8. Damn you, I was all excited about riding the stegosaurus but their website says no.

I was going to growl loudly, just like Trump making truck noises while pretending to drive a semi.

[Achilleaze]

9. sleazeball republican grifters pretending to be "christians"

are dragging America down with their degenerate "values" as they follow the example of their ignoble family-values role model, Comrade Casino - the republican Draft-Dodger-in-Chief.

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

10. I think a detailed review of Ken Ham's immigration record is in order

[Dread Pirate Roberts]

11. I'm calling the National Weather Service!

I can help them with their forecast. I foresee a direct lightning strike on the Ark. Check that insurance policy! God wants it to burn down so they can be bailed out of this fiasco. I think paying $10 for the ark was overpaying.

[hatrack]

12. Hard for even lightining to burn reinforced concrete and structural . . .

You know, just like the Real Noah had on hand when he built the Real Ark!

[NBachers]

13. What's the status of the property tax on this valuable developed acreage?