STURGIS - Some Sturgis Motorcycle Rally vendors are unhappy with new fees being phased in.

KOTA television reports that vendor fees this year will increase $50 this year to $700.

Sturgis City Manager Daniel Ainslie says a new system next year would charge a flat fee for every vendor at every location and then a per-square-foot fee. For large vendors, that could result in an increase of $1,800.

Ainslie says the system tries to provide equity among smaller and larger vendors.

Sturgis Real Estate and Promotions owner David Wilson says 30 percent of vendor space is empty, and the fee will be one of the biggest economic disasters to ever hit the rally.

Sturgis Photo and Gift Shop owner Bob Davis, a former vendor, says Sturgis has too many regulations.

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