COLUMBUS – Columbus City Council president Shannon Hardin, chair of the Rules and Reference Committee, is holding a public hearing Thursday to review a revised proposal for a ticket fee to support the arts and Nationwide Arena.
Actor and former California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is opposing the 5 percent fee on arts, sports and entertainment ticket sales, saying the fee will damage business in Columbus.
The Columbus Dispatch reports Schwarzenegger says he doesn’t understand taxing sports events and giving the money to arts.
Schwarzenegger founded the city’s giant Arnold Sports Festival and Fitness Expo, which draws thousands of visitors each March and which also opposes the fee.
The opposition comes even after City Council dropped the proposal from 7 to 5 percent this week.
Other opposition centered around the use of funds raised by the tax to support improvements at Nationwide Arena.
Backers include the Greater Columbus Arts Council and Protect Art 4 Columbus.