A special service district fee charged to downtown Rochester businesses has been set for 2011.
Fees, supporting the Rochester Downtown Alliance and helping fund downtown programs and projects, will total $191,442 next year, up from about $173,000 in 2010. The city council voted 6-0 Monday to approve the fee level.
In addition to service district fees, the city government and Mayo Clinic pitch in $75,000 apiece for financial support of downtown development and activities.
The fee assessment is charged at a uniform rate against downtown properties' tax-assessed values. It equals about 4 percent of a property's commercial-class tax capacity.
No one spoke for or against the fee during a public hearing. RDA Executive Director Jon Eckhoff gave a short presentation on the organization's achievements during the last year, which included several new entertainment events to bring visitors downtown.
