Annual visitors to Niagara Falls’ State Parks and attractions like Maid of the Mist are estimated at 8-10 million tourists. Niagara Falls Councilmember Kenny Tompkins says of the millions in annual revenue the state generates from that destination, the city has seen none of it.

"It only makes sense that the people that are using our infrastructure and our public safety pay for it,” said Tompkins. “We get a lot of money from New York state because we’re a poverty city, but the State Parks, the entity that controls all the waterways and stuff, we don’t get a piece of that money.”

During a council meeting Wednesday councilors passed a new resolution to change that.

Tompkins says the revenue from the surcharge will not be included in the city's budget though he says it will help with the city's deficit.

“When something goes bad, who do they call? Our fire department, our police department," Tompkins added their services should be compensated. "It’s our fire department that does gorge safety and rescue, that they have to go out into the water. If there is an arrest they have State Parks Police, but they then hand them off to the City of Niagara Falls Police. So we’re tied up taking care of these issues.”

The resolution suggests an additional $5 for parking on a New York State Parks lot, $20 for every bus and an additional $2 for every ticket sold at an attraction. 

Tompkins says the revenue will go back into the city's public safety and infrastructure.

Niagara Falls looks to join cities like Orlando and Niagara Falls, Ontario that have generated millions from incorporating the same charge.

In a statement sent to Spectrum News, New York State Parks said:

“The agency doesn’t comment on proposed legislation. We are committed to working with the city of Niagara Falls to continue building on the great work we’ve accomplished in recent years to bolster the city’s tourism economy.”

Though the resolution has passed in Niagara Falls it cannot yet be imposed by the city. It's now up to New York state to make it a law.