OPINION
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ENTERTAINMENT
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INSIDE
CALI F ORNIA UNIVERSITY
THIS WEEK IN PHOTOS SPORTS
February 15, 2013
IN THE
NEWS
california university of Pennsylvania
PAGES 6 & 7 PAGES 10 & 11
vol. 34, No. 03
Cal Borough proposes 10 percent amusement tax By Jenna Faccenda and Nick Barilla for the Cal Times
grammy award-winner performs at Cal u
Myron Butler, a singer, songwriter, producer and choir director, conducted workshops and performed with Cal U’s Young and Gifted Gospel Choir as Cal U celebrates Black History Month.
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OPINION Valentine’s Day - Make or Break your heart? Does the thought of Valentine’s Day send you into a euphoria filled with thoughts of jewelry, romantic cards, candy and roses? What is Valentine’s Day all about?
The Borough is trying to add an additional tax to all ticketed events in the borough of California, including events held at California University of Pennsylvania. This would be considered an amusement tax that would add on an extra 10% to the cost of the ticket. This includes events like football games, men’s and women’s basketball games, concerts and musical performances, theater, dance, improv productions, comedy shows, dances and any other ticketed event sponsored by the Student Activities Board. Students are not happy about this decision. Student government and SAI board of directors member Chelsea Getsy has been busy educating clubs and organizations on the proposed ordinance by the request of Vice President for Marketing & University Relations Craig Butzine. Butzine had previously voiced the university’s objections to the Borough ordinance that assesses fees on the sale of alcohol at events at the newly constructed Convocation Center. Getsy and fellow student government member Brendan Demmy have also rallied supporters online. They created a Facebook event inviting students to speak on the ordinance proposal at the Feb. 14
photo by casey flores Leah Panos (freshman, business management), reads a sign posted in the Natali Student Center on Tuesday inviting students to challenge California Borough’s proposed ordinance to levy a 10 percent amusement tax.
Borough council meeting. Over 200 students have been invited to attend via the event, and organizers are hoping at least 15 will stand and make their voice heard. “The Borough plans to use the money for town use, and is not specific. The borough is only enforcing it on the University, so it is not a disadvantage to the borough (elementary and high) schools,” Getsy said. According to the ordinance proposal, “the amusement tax would be for general revenue purposes… with the estimated
amount of revenue to be derived from the tax being $30,000 annually, and thus will be in the best interest of the health, safety and welfare of Borough residents.” Students such as Getsy see this new tax proposition as being targeted towards them. The borough states that the tax will not be applied to anyone under the age of eighteen. This means that students from both the middle school and the high school will not be affected by this change. Activities that constitute a purely public charity are also exempt under the new
ordinance. In response to the ordinance, the University filed a legal objection to collecting the proposed tax with an attorney. This leaves the possibility of the issue being taken to court. Readers can check next week’s edition of the Cal Times for more information on the proposed ordinance and the Feb. 14 California Borough Council meeting. For the latest information on the issue, stay tuned to the Cal Times’ Facebook, Twitter and online edition. The notice given can be found below verbatim.
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THE ARTS Super commercial sunday Cal U students offer their picks for best television advertisement during this year’s NFL Super Bowl.
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SPORTS Basketball teams split games with Gannon golden knights The men’s and women’s basketball teams took on Gannon at home last weekend, managing one victory between them.
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Notice concerning ordinance no. 536 NOTICE TO THE RESIDENTS OF THE BOROUGH OF CALIFORNIA NOTICE is hereby given that the California Borough Council shall consider for adoption proposed Ordinance No. 536 at its regular meeting on February 14, 2013 at 6:30 P.M. [sic] at the Borough Administration Building, 225 Third Street, California, PA 15419, with a summary as follows: AN ORDINANCE OF THE BOROUGH OF CALIFORNIA, WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA IMPLEMENTING A TEN PERCENT (10%) AMUSEMENT TAX; CONTAINING A DEFINITIONS SECTION; REQUIRING PROVIDES OF AMUSEMENT TO REGISTER WITH THE BOROUGH; DETAILING THE PROCEDURES FOR THE COLLECTION OF THE AMUSEMENT TAX BY PROVIDERS; REQUIRING PROVIDERS OF AMUSEMENT TO FILE REPORTS WITH THE BOROUGH; PROVIDING FOR THE DISPOSITION OF TAXES, PENALTIES AND INTEREST, AND PROVIDING PENALTIES FOR VIOLATION. The amusement tax would be for general revenue purposes by way of the levying of an assessment and the collection of taxes imposed upon provides of amusement within the Borough, with the estimated amount of revenue to be derived from the tax being $30,000 annually, and, thus, will be in the best interest of the health, safety and welfare of Borough residents. Ordinance No. 536 would be enacted under the authority of the Local Tax Enabling Act, 53 P.S. § 6924.101, et seq. The ten percent (10%) tax will be on providers of the amusement, with amusement being defined as all manner and forms of entertainment, subject to tax as set forth in the Local Ta Enabling Act, including but not limited to theatrical performances, concerts, circuses, carnivals, side shows, all forms of entertainment at fairgrounds and amusement parks, floor shows, dancing exhibitions, trade shows, craft shows, art shows and exhibitions, sporting events, any and all forms of live entertainment, and all other forms of diversion, sport, recreation, or pastime for which admissions charges are obtained from the general public or a limited or selected number thereof, directly or indirectly. Except, however, the following shall not be subject to the tax: admissions to motion picture theaters; events where the age of the majority of the participants therein is under the age of eighteen (18) years old, and, any other activities that constitute a purely public charity or which are exempted from tax liability in the Local Tax Enabling Act. Anyone wishing to obtain a copy of the proposed Ordinance prior to the regular meeting can call the Borough Secretary, in advance, at 724-938-8878 to arrange for a time when your copy will be available for pick up. MELENYZER & AGRAFIOTIS, LLC SOLICITORS FOR THE BOROUGH OF CALIFORNIA 411 Washington Avenue, Charleroi PA 15022
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