Ark Encounter, Kentucky Creationist Theme Park, Gets Generous Tax Breaks In Budget Proposal

Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear (D) has proposed a 2012-2013 budget that includes heavy cuts to some key departments while giving a $43 million tax break to a massive creationist theme park.

In his plan, Beshear calls for a 6.4 percent cut to Kentucky's higher education department, a 2.2 percent cut to the State Police force and sizable cuts to other agencies in what he calls an effort to cut the budget to the bone.

The proposal is one of the most austere state budgets in recent history, according to the Lexington Herald-Leader, and Beshear was quick to admit it is "inadequate for the needs of our people."

"We should be making substantial investments in our physical and intellectual infrastructure to bring transformational change to our state," Beshear said while unveiling his plan earlier this week. "This budget does not allow us to do enough of that."

At the same time, however, Beshear has proposed going through with a $43 million tax break to Ark Adventure, an 800-acre amusement part that is expected to include a three-stories high, two-football-fields long "replica" of Noah's Ark. On top of the tax break, Think Progress reports that the governor's budget includes $11 million to improve a highway interchange near the park.

Ark Adventure is the brain child of Answers in Genesis, an evangelical group also behind the Creation Museum, another Kentucky attraction that has drawn millions of visitors since its opening in 2007.

Beshear, a Democrat, has long been a supporter of the project. The $172 million undertaking and its $43 million in tax incentives have made it through various state committees.

Comments

[Olivia Page]

01:33 PM on 08/27/2012

Isn't Kentucky spending federal dollars to widen the highway around this "museum" too?

[richloammiser]

02:50 AM on 02/01/2012

The worst part of the Ark Encounter is their plan for the non-ark rides. First up: the 10 Plagues of Egypt. Ooh, sounds fun! Here's a funny blog post about the top 7 Bible themes that would make for terrible rides! http://biblefunmentionables.wordpress.com/2012/01/31/the-top-7-bible-themed-rides-you-wont-find-at-the-ark-encounter-amusement-park/

[Eris23Skidoo]

02:19 AM on 01/24/2012

Religion would never exist without state subsidy.

[Jeriame Zenzayer]

09:20 PM on 01/23/2012

The apostle Paul said "The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them..." (1Cor.2:14). I am sure if this venue would allow, I would garnish a few colorful metaphors as well. This is no more a "theme park" than a state funded zoo or museum. It will bring in revenue for the county, state, and all the local businesses. All of you should be more concerned about how our tax dollars have been used to propagate one scientific theory while being hostile to every other, or using tax dollars to fund murder under the guise of "choice". Ironically, athiests complain about "being forced" in the US while ignoring the fruits of a true atheistic country: North Korea. THINK you have freedom? The truth is, all are slaves to sin apart from Christ. Everyone is destined to die, and will meet God whether you believe in Him or not. Ever told a lie? ever stolen? ever lusted after someone else? Jesus calls it adultery. Ever hated someone? Jesus calls it murder. Your god would never send people to Hell? Of course he wouldn't because you broke the 2nd Commandment by creating a god that you are comfortable with. Joseph Goebbels, Hitler's master propagandist, said "tell a lie big enough and often enough, and eventually people will believe it". All will be served justice according to God's Law. REPENT and trust in Christ!

[bilblo]

04:14 PM on 01/25/2012

"tell a lie big enough and often enough, and eventually people will believe it"

Here's a big lie: Jesus was the son of God.

[steveb6921]

10:29 PM on 01/25/2012

Wow, such judgmental, venomous retort from supposedly loving christians. And, to bring Hitler's name into your argument - better be careful and get the facts straight there (Hitler was not an Atheist!)
Anyway, the right to freedom of thought must remain, along with maintaining the intent of our Constitution that enforces the concept: Separation of Church and State. Atheism and Anti-Theism does not purport to believe in the common god perception you favor. Nor, do we need to CAPITALIZE words like "repent"! If you read your own "God's Law" and all of your commandments you're supposed to follow, you wouldn't even be allowed to use modern conveniences like your computer (ever talk to any Amish?) We must obey the laws of our country and the Golden Rules of common courtesy - no need to "trust in a christ" invented by Bronze Age middle-eastern story-tellers and then adopted by the Church during a convention of paranoid religious leaders to ensure subjugation of the masses...
Free-Thinking - let's all give it a try! Quit supporting your politicians and religious leaders who are leading us astray. Thanks!

[hkj]

11:50 AM on 07/31/2012

Applause for steve :)

[joeyfoto]

08:56 PM on 01/23/2012

Cutting education to fund absurd, ignorant lies defines the future of Kentucky.

Teaching these myths to children as science, should be considered criminal child abuse.

There is no science in this; there is only faith in mythology.

[Jeriame Zenzayer]

08:18 PM on 01/23/2012

The arguement regarding tax distribution in this story is a "straw man". The Federal breakdown on distribution of tax, 6% is allocated to Police/Fire/Civil while a whopping 38% goes towards Social Security, a broken retirement system, and 16% to medicare. Providing for the national defense falls in in between @ 20%- the only one that was ever meant to be funded according to our founding fathers.
Instead of wasting your time complaining about a tax break on a US Constitution protected entity, why not speak out where the real money issues are? Let me ask you a few questions: 1. Regarding macro evolution- do you think it should be taught as a fact of life when it cannot and will never be proven as such? And, do you think the education system has a right to indoctrinate children with that mindset while being not just silent, but hostile versus ANY other scientific theory, including Intelligent Design and Creation? As one who was brainwashed into thinking evolution was true, once my eyes were opened to the Truth, you see where it falls flat on it's face compared to real, testable science. Once you see the facts, you might want to re-evaluate your comment about fairy tales.

[joeyfoto]

09:00 PM on 01/23/2012

Jeriame Zenzayer wrote: " Once you see the facts, you might want to re-evaluat­e your comment about fairy tales."

You have no facts. Your "science" is as delusional as your budget analysis.

"Intelligent Design" is a "fairy tale," or worse — it is a lie.

[reasonisreasonable]

07:09 PM on 01/25/2012

Despite what your "beliefs" may tell you, Macroevolution has been proven, and the jump from chimp to human has been specifically identified. Do some research into the 2nd human chromosome, which was formed by the fusion of two ape chromosomes. Intelligent Design and Creationism aren't scientific theories, as they have no acceptance in any part of the legitimate scientific community which bases its information on facts. Furthermore, your budget analysis is shortsighted, and you should probably look up the definition of a "straw man" argument. You have refuted a legitimate argument with a "straw man" argument yourself. The irony and hypocrisy is palpable; please don't breed.

[Jeriame Zenzayer]

09:20 AM on 01/26/2012

Where is this so-called proof? Not even Twin-Nested Hierarchy can prove macro-evolution. Where is the proof of "First Cause"? Scientifically explain how materialism explains "ex nihilo nihil fit"? Big bang's evidence points to Intelligent Design. You must do more research into the very beliefs that you hold so dear. Prophecies in the Bible were fulfilled and proven using Archaeological evidence, the same evidence that verifies the accuracy of the chronology in the books of the OT. Many extra-biblical historians can be cited regarding Christ and His followers. The scientific evidence matches biblical descriptions (Dinosaurs, Job 40:15-24; expanding/uniform shape of universe and the Earth was round- Isaiah 40:22; DNA double helix digital code that is absolutely necessary to build a functional protein, for without it, you have a 10 to the 149th power to be successful via chance- Psalm 139:14; and an order to everthing, even the placement of the Earth/Sol System within Galaxy. You hate The Truth because your conscience bears witness to it when you lie, steal, lust, create a relative moral viewpoint that fits your lifestyle, etc... You are afraid that if there is a Creator that created us in His image, then you would have to face the fact that there just may be a binding moral law that is just as real as the physical ones.

[Crevo Press]

01:57 PM on 01/23/2012

A rather confusing article. Leaves the impression Kentucky is cutting funding to services while giving Ark Encounter $43 million. Thus, the Ark Encounter is getting money cut from the state budget. This is false. The two are not even related.

Kentucky is not giving them ANY money from this or future budget proposals. This is bad research on the part of the HuffPost and other news outlets.

It's a tax refund on future taxes collected at the Ark Encounter. And then only if the project meets state (Kentucky) defined attendance and revenue goals. And not even all taxes collected in any given year will be refunded. Sales taxes collected outside the park are not subject to a refund.

The Kentucky budget is for fiscal years 2012-2014. (Note the correct fiscal budget span -- I guess when one copies other news outlets, mistakes happen!) The Ark Encounter will most likely not open until 2014. Only after it opens and sufficient people pay to attend (and taxes are collected) will Kentucky return SOME of the sales tax to the Ark Encounter. Sales tax revenue collected onsite will be returned over a period of time up to the $43 million as defined by Kentucky -- assuming attendance remains at projected levels. How can Kentucky give the Ark Encounter money (under the legally defined sales tax rebate plan) when they haven't even started collecting the tax??? And not until after 2014?

Bad reporting... *SIGH*

CP

[Tom Iarossi]

09:50 AM on 07/22/2012

So the tax will be paid by the patrons, and forwarded to the state by the park. At some point the state will return that money to the park. Am I right so far?

So will the money then be returned to the patrons? Or will the park keep it, in effect getting a subsidy from the state?

[Dan Schell]

08:03 PM on 01/22/2012

I'm sure it will be as popular as Autoworld was in Flint.

[Claudia L]

05:26 PM on 01/22/2012

Yes! Let the bible thumpers pay taxes for a change. Besides I want to go on "The Lot Ride" so I can see him commit incest with his two daughters. Then I want to see God "Kill every man woman, child & beast of burden" at Sodom & Gomorrah, Jericho, and you know that town where Lot's wife was turned to a pillar of salt.

[bmutc01]

05:14 PM on 01/22/2012

Cutting money from the education budget and effectively giving it to an amusement park that teaches people that folklore is truth... and we wonder why this country has issues.

[Jeriame Zenzayer]

03:59 PM on 01/22/2012

Wow, a state that gets it right when it comes to education and they are crucified for it. That figures. Remember what Christ said "You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved". We should be thankful, for here in the US, the scoffers can only taunt and ridicule and do nothing more. Compare that to what happens in Indonesia, Mindanao (of the Philippines), Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Burma, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey, Mali, India, and Columbia where they are murdered, imprisoned, and tortured for their belief in God. That is not counting the 38 other countries where it is against the law to even own a Bible, worship Jesus Christ, and congregate as a church. I thank God for the state of Kentucky where freedom of education still exists. Here in North Carolina, most children (including myself years ago) are indoctrinated into believing they share a common ancestor with a monkey. Stand firm Christians! As Paul said, "they exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator..." (Rom. 1:25)

[Dan Schell]

07:53 PM on 01/22/2012

Ooo, look...a unicorn!

[sabbic]

12:31 AM on 01/23/2012

Consider that in a large portion of those 38 country's where it's supposedly illegal to own a bible, that they may practice another religion. Also, considering your church's already pay no taxes, don't you think it would be ok for a theme park to pay their fair share. What do you honestly believe is more important, kids going and learning something they already learn in church or having your children's teachers and the police that protect your home keep their jobs? Think you can come up with a answer without spewing some fairy tale verse every other sentence?

[Jeriame Zenzayer]

08:25 PM on 01/23/2012

I tried to edit my post to delete the first sentence, as I misspoke.
Not "supposedly", it is a fact. And yes, all but North Korea and the Shariya Law states, people are allowed to practice other religions.
This place is just as much a "theme park" as the exhibits at every State funded Zoo and museum in the country.
"Theme park" or not, remember what attractions like this do for the local economy- they increase local spending and put money in the pockets of small business in the surrounding area.

[minusjason]

01:54 PM on 01/22/2012

I'm a little tired of seeing these anti-Kentucky comments. I am from Kentucky and I know many people who would think this tax break is BS. You don't have to attack the state and call its people stupid to make a point about what the governor is doing.

[tclayjr]

01:52 PM on 01/22/2012

We do much worse in KY than anyone can imagine and you all are paying for it since we get $1.52 back for ever $1 we send to Washington. We arrest and imprison people for selling 2 narcotic pills for 2 years at a cost of $60,000 to taxpayers. It's all about the revenues the rest of you are willing to send to the poor red states with powerful senators who know how to bring home the bacon because they are all swine. When the rest of you wake up to the fact that lawyers will never stop creating ways to pay their mortgages then maybe we won't seem like like such an ignorant hick state. After all, we are doing this with your blessing and your tax dollars!

[Estevan Benson]

01:39 PM on 01/22/2012

Kentucky should be shamed out of the union.

[Sassi-squatch]

04:22 PM on 01/23/2012

...as well as a half-dozen other southern states.

[dukeuch]

01:21 PM on 01/22/2012

In fairness, if you are going to give massive tax breaks to a creationist theme park it would be hypocritical to NOT slash the budget for higher education.