Kentucky has withdrawn its offer of tax incentives for a Christian theme park in Northern Kentucky. The decision comes after the Christian non-profit Answers In Genesis, which controls Ark Encounter, refused to provide written assurance to the cabinet that the park would not discriminate in hiring decisions based on religion.
Secretary of the Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet Bob Stewart stated in a letter to AIG’s attorney James Parsons that the tourism attraction has evolved into an extension of AIG’s ministry. Stewart said state incentives cannot be used to advance religion and the state cannot grant incentives to a company that intends to discriminate in hiring decisions based on religion.
Parsons claims AIG is not legally mandated to assure it will not discriminate and believes the state should approve the tax breaks. Before the Commonwealth officially withdrew its tax break offer, Parsons alerted the tourism cabinet that his client will seek redress in federal court if the cabinet insists the theme-park will not discriminate.
The Kentucky Tourism Development Finance Board approved the Ark Encounter for $18 million in tax breaks in July, after originally approving the project for $43 million in 2011 for a more ambitions plan.
