MONTPELIER — City Council on Thursday night approved putting a tax increase for downtown commercial property on the March ballot.

The council voted 5-2 to approve asking the question on the ballot. Alan Weiss and Tom Golonka dissented.

The ballot item, pushed by Montpelier Alive, will ask voters to raise up to $75,000 for marketing and streetscape projects. The tax rate increase would be 4.5 cents per $100 of assessed property value.

All registered voters in the city can vote on the issue.

The organization polled businesses, gathering some 121 responses, and found 72 percent of those surveyed in favor, said Montpelier Alive board members.