STURGIS, S.D. (AP) — Voters in Meade County have overwhelmingly rejected setting up a tax increment financing district to pay for a proposed highway bypass around the motorcycle mecca of Sturgis.

More than 3,300 people voted in Tuesday's election, and unofficial results show 75 percent of them were against the financing plan for the proposed 6-mile "Fort Meade Way."

Bypass proponents say it could spur growth east of the city and ease traffic during the annual motorcycle rally that draws hundreds of thousands of people. Opponents worry about the effect of a bypass on local businesses.

Both the City Council and the Chamber of Commerce opposed using tax increment financing to fund the proposal.

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