The Ohio Renaissance Festival Protest

Are real-estate taxes being paid properly by ORF Inc. and Peter Carroll?

Before I get started on this issue, lets be perfectly clear about something. We are not talking about shacks or tents. Some of the buildings at the Ohio Renaissance festival have concrete floors, underground wiring, hot and cold running water, showers, and even bath tubs. Some of them have living quarters which the festival have approved. Basically, these are small cottages which sell for about $10,000.00 to $20,000.00 a peace. I have heard tell of one being offered last year for $27,000.00 but I do not know that it sold. So lets dispense with the common defense that these are temporary structures or that the village is not a permanent structure because it is only open for two months.

I do not think real estate tax is being paid properly on the buildings of the Ohio Renaissance Festival and I would like to explain why it is that I think this. If you are a merchant who owns a building at the Ohio Renaissance Festival, you might be scared right about now. I don’t think you should be. You see, Peter Carroll has claimed that he is paying YOUR SHARE of the real estate taxes with your rent:

“Shop space rental is $35.00 per linear front foot, with a minimum rental of
RATE: $700.00. Each shop is also charged a yearly service/utility fee of $150.00 which
Covers real estate taxes on your shop, water, trash removal, privies and electricity for the 8 weekends.”

Documentation of claim - http://www.renfestival.com/pdfs/vendor-application-2008a.pdf

Note the quote does not say it covers the tax on the property on which that shop exists. This statement seems to be rather clearly be speaking about the structure that you have built or purchased. This clearly says it covers the real estate tax on your shop.

The property on which that structure is permanently built is in fact owned by Peter Carroll himself (not ORF Inc.). I assume there is some sneaky tax reason for that fact. My guess is he rents the property to the Incorporation that he owns, somehow avoiding or paying less tax.

That property is 177 size of which 30 acres are defined by a permanent Renaissance Village. To define that 30-acre village, hundreds of structures are involved; including those belonging to the more than 135 artisans that ORF claims to have, food services, taverns, and booths, which resell their goods. Probably between 150 – 200 free standing permanent structures, many with concrete floors.

Has real estate taxes being properly paid on these buildings? Certainly it is being collected. After all, Peter Carroll states rather firmly in a public document that he is collecting the real estate tax from you, the building owner. Does that money then go to the government or is it going into Peter Carroll’s pocket?

Although I have no proof what so ever, I believe the Ohio Renaissance Festival is not paying real estate tax on these permanent commercial structures. I believe, for the purpose of estimating taxes, ORF Inc. is paying taxes only on the buildings that I owns and that Peter Carroll is paying taxes on the land itself.

In total my building cost about $20,000.00 and I have observed buildings selling from $10,000.00 to $20,000.00. Lets set the average at $15,000.00 per building and say there are 200 buildings. Is the Ohio Renaissance Festival Incorporated paying the real-estate tax due each year on the extra $3,000,00.00 (that’s 3 million dollars) ? They certainly are charging for it and claiming that the money is paid.

With the amount of interest in this protest growing each day, I think the taxman is going to be paying a visit to the Ohio Renaissance Festival and I think many people could be seriously damaged if the state or county insists merchants pay their real-estate tax and the back real estate tax. I think, however, you can protect yourself by becoming informed.

Visit the web page I cited above. Save the information provided on that page. Look at your hard copies and contracts for the same statement. Preserve every instance where Peter Carroll or the Ohio Renaissance Festival Inc. provided written or oral assurances like the one on that web site. Above all, team up with you fellow both owners and create a unified front.

Peter Carroll and the Ohio Renaissance Festival Inc. PROMISED and ASSURED the merchants that it was collecting and paying the real estate taxes on our buildings. If it was not paid, then Peter Carroll and the Ohio Renaissance Festival Inc. should be responsible for any back taxes and penalties.

The key is to band together. One person saying he was promised X,Y, or Z will not get it. I have provided the weblink, go save and print that document. Show it to other building owners. Together you can protect yourselves.