Wynn seeks permission to charge admission for $300 million art exhibit

In August, the Nevada Tax Commission voted against the idea of charging an admission fee to see the Renoirs, Monets, Matisses and Picassos at the Las Vegas Strip property once it opens Oct. 15.

But Wynn, chairman of Mirage Resorts Inc., said he hopes to persuade commission members to reconsider when they meet Tuesday in Carson City.

"It (earlier vote) nullified the whole idea," Wynn said. "If museums couldn't charge, they couldn't survive. I'm hoping for enough understanding."

Wynn helped push through a state law in 1997 that exempted major art collectors from most of the state's sales and use tax if they agree to publicly display their masterpieces.

But the law is silent on the issue of admission fees. To qualify for the deep discounts in the state's sales and use tax, the tax commission later ruled that collectors must display the artwork for free.

However, Wynn said he thinks a $10 admission charge should be allowed because it takes money for security, insurance and other costs to display fine art.

"People want to be near it. If I have fine art, I'll be flattering the people," Wynn said. "If I make it free, it's got no value. It won't bust anyone to make it 10 bucks."

Wynn said he plans to set aside time each day for schoolchildren to view the art at no charge.

State Sen. Joe Neal, D-North Las Vegas, said he plans to introduce a bill to repeal the exemption for art collectors next year.

He estimated the exemption could mean $15 million in first-year tax breaks for Wynn and Mirage Resorts.

"When are we going to collect from the wealthy, rather than have them take from the state?" Neal asked.

But Senate Majority Leader Bill Raggio, R-Reno, said the exemption is worth a try if it can promote the arts.

"That (repeal proposal) is a lot of political rhetoric," he said. "I don't see any compelling reason to change the law."

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