Now, the community may decide to approve new taxes, which would raise ticket prices.

"I was shell-shocked," said King Island Vice President Greg Scheid.

"No one called to tell us anything," added Ralph Vilardo with The Beach Waterpark.

Officials with The Beach Waterpark and Kings Island said they were completely blindsided.

"Very bad politics and we're disappointed that they've used this tactic," said Vilardo.

Earlier this week Mason City Council introduced two new tax proposals, a three percent admissions tax and a five percent parking tax.

"It is the right thing to do for the residents, obviously," said Councilmember Tony Bradburn.

Bradburn is the main proponent for the increases. He said the changes will only raise ticket prices by about a dollar.

"I don't think that's a lot to ask," said Bradburn.

The increase may not hurt single ticket purchases, but park officials said much of their sales are to large groups.

"If it's a group of 40,000 people coming in, it's a big expenditure for them and it can be the difference between a yes or no to that group," said Scheid.

Park officials said ticket price increases would have a huge economic ripple effect on the region.

"Our attendance goes down and therefore as people come into the city of Mason, they don't just come visit us. They come visit all the other businesses. They support the hotel, they support the restaurants, the gas station," said Vilardo.

Bradburn said the tax increases will generate around $2 million each year. That money would help the city pay for road improvements near Kings Island.

"We do have significant capital improvements that need to be made in the area and this is a way for us to go ahead and shift that burden to some degree from the residents of the city of Mason to the people that use the park. It's a user fee," said Bradburn.

This issue has been discussed and debated for the last three years, but it hasn't moved forward.

"It's almost like Tony "Tax" Bradburn has a personal vendetta against the park," said Scheid.

"There was a tax there that could've been there for a couple of years, but we've held off as long as we could," responded Bradburn.

A final vote is expected on November 23. If the tax passes, increases will go into effect early next year.

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