The Gorge among top 5 tax payers in county

GEORGE - An economic study released this week to the Columbia Basin Herald shows Live Nation, the company that owns The Gorge Amphitheatre, paid about $1.5 million in taxes to Grant County in 2013 and has paid $5.3 million to the county since 2009.

That puts Live Nation in the top five tax paying businesses in the county, said Jonathan Smith, executive director of Grant County Economic Development Council. Live Nation consultant Dick Schrock pointed out the venue generates that revenue with only 20 days of music each year.

Grant County Treasurer Darryl Pheasant said that revenue is crucial to Grant County, which operates with a $35 million annual budget.

Live Nation paid $4.6 million in combined state and local taxes in 2013 and paid $16.7 million since 2009.

Former Washington State Department of Revenue Director Donald Burrows authored the report that used data from university studies, local government statistics and state department of revenue reports.

The report shows the venue pays about $1,400 to the local hospital district each year that benefits the Quincy Valley Medical Center, where ill concertgoers are usually treated.

QVMC Hospital Board members asked for more money from Live Nation in April to cover increased staff and concertgoers who don't pay their bill. The Gorge Amphitheatre's General Manager Danny Wilde said the conflict is between the county and the hospital and should not involve the venue.

Smith pointed out that many rural hospitals are suffering financial hardships.

Live Nation asked for the report in May shortly after applying for a zoning change that would allow the venue to build retail stores, an outdoor cinema and a hotel, according to the application.

The Grant County Planning Department and Planning Commission recommended the zoning change earlier this year, primarily to reduce seven difficult to enforce conditional use permits into one permit.

During a planning meeting in July, many neighbors of The Gorge asked the venue not be allowed to expand and some even called for the venue to be shut down because of problems with security, traffic and sewage.

"We heard the neighbors loud and clear," Wilde said.

He said since the meeting, officials have made huge strides to reduce the negative impacts of the concerts to neighbors.

They have given residents rear view mirror hang tags to allow them to more quickly navigate through the traffic, created a hotline where residents can call to report unruly concertgoers or other security concerns, generated a newsletter to let locals know what to expect from the venue and met with many residents individually who expressed outrage during the planning meeting.

Those strides helped ease some of the concerns of residents during the next planning meeting earlier this month.

The same residents who were vehemently opposed to the venue's expansion either changed their minds or lessened their criticism.

The Gorge brings about 380,000 visitors to Grant County each year, putting it second in that category to Sun Lakes Resort, according to the report.

Smith, of the EDC, said that tourism is an important aspect to the county's economy and the EDC supports Live Nation and the zoning change that could allow for more tax revenue.

Wilde would not comment on the likelihood of the zoning change bringing more concertgoers to the venue, and said a concert management agreement signed by county commissioners each year determines the number of attendees.

That agreement also states Live Nation must pay for local sheriff's deputies to handle traffic control and law enforcement at a rate between $30-$61 per hour for each officer. The report stated Live Nation paid the Grant County Sheriff's Office $189,239 in 2013.

The venue spent more than $9 million on staff since 2009, and Wilde said he always tries to hire local residents to fill those spots.

The next hurdle for the zoning change comes at a public comment hearing at 8:30 a.m. Aug. 26 at the Grant County Board of Commissioners hearing room.