Cleveland Debates Tax Break

The Cleveland City Council is considering giving clubs that hold less than 700 people a break on paying the city’s 8 percent admission tax.

Four council members proposed the plan Oct. 17 after club owners complained that the tax just adds to their struggle to stay in business, according to The Plain Dealer.

Councilman Joe Cimperman backs the idea as a way to boost the local economy as well as the local music scene.

However, Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson isn’t sold on the idea, saying the city needs the revenue and can’t be “run on air.”

If approved, club owners behind in their admission tax payments would need to clear up the debt before earning the exemption, the paper said.