A controversial religious theme park planned for northern Kentucky has been granted a new round of tax breaks by the state.
The Kentucky Tourism Development Finance Board voted unanimously to approve $18 million in sales tax breaks for the project. It is being built by a company controlled by Answers in Genesis, a conservative Christian nonprofit that operates the Creation Museum, which teaches patrons that the Earth is about 6,000 years old.
Answers in Genesis Vice President Mike Zovath says that using public money to fund his project is no different than state sponsorship of the arts and performance venues.
“They’re not sponsoring the speech of actors and stand-up comedians that happen to perform there. So they’re not sponsoring that anymore than they’re sponsoring what goes on at the Ark Encounter, whatever that might be. This is purely an economic issue.”
The board is awaiting a final analysis of the project by a contracted consulting firm before members make a final decision in the next month-and-a-half.
