Public weighs in on city plan

By Staff
Hearing set for April 3 at 7 p.m. on capital improvement plan
Leada DeVaney, Hartselle Enquirer
Hartselle residents will soon have their say on the city's $23 million capitol improvement plan.
A public hearing is schedule for April 3 at 7 p.m. at the Sparkman Civic Center. Up for discussion will be the capital improvement plan, which includes money for items such as emergency sirens, fire engines and road construction.
Depending on how the hearing goes, Mayor Clif Knight said the council could proceed with its plans for a 10 mill property tax increase.
"If the support is strong enough, we will proceed with a property tax referendum," Knight said.
The council is proposing a list of items as part of the capital improvement plan, including:
The push for a property tax comes on the heels of last year's unsuccessful efforts to legalize alcohol sales in the city. If the property tax doesn't pass, city officials have not ruled out the possibility of a sales tax increase.
A property tax would have to be approved by a majority of Hartselle voters.
The council can enact a sales tax increase without a city-wide vote.