Haskell Council sets sales-tax vote
By ROBERT SHEARON News editor

Haskell voters will get to vote on a 1 percent sales tax at the Nov. 4 general election.

The Haskell City Council last week approved an ordinance placing the tax on the ballot.

If approved, the tax will go to support the city's fire department, and specifically to pay the salaries of several part-time firefighters.

Mayor Jeff Arey said that the department is currently all-volunteer, which sometimes causes problems during the day. "We need staff during the day," he said.

The tax would raise $75,000 to $80,000 a year, he said.

Alderman Hal Baker said it was important that voters know all the tax money would go to the fire department, with none going to administration or other city projects.

If passed, the city would start collecting the tax in April 2009.

Fire Chief Brian Cotten said the tax could help lower the city's fire rating, eventually.

"We are a class 5 inside the city. This could make headway toward class 4." He said the city makes improvements on water system each year to help inch the city closer to qualifying for a better fire-insurance rating.

He said all new subdivisions have strict regulations involving locations of fire hydrants, and the city adds two to three fire hydrants each year in older parts of the city.

The next city council meeting is set for Sept. 15.