Spanish Fort council approves sales‑tax holiday exemption, public‑safety grants and $2 million financing agreement

The City Council of Spanish Fort on Monday approved a municipal exemption for the state’s back‑to‑school sales‑tax holiday, authorized grant applications and equipment purchases for the fire and police departments that rely on grant funding, and approved a $2 million general obligation warrant financing agreement to fund a fire truck purchase and property acquisitions.

Council members voted to adopt a municipal exemption from the city’s 1.5 percent sales and use tax for covered back‑to‑school items during the state sales‑tax holiday period that will run from July 18 through midnight July 20, 2025. City staff clarified the exemption does not apply to license fees charged at the Eastern Shore Centre.

The council approved a resolution authorizing the mayor and the fire chief to apply for state homeland security grant funds to cover cameras and access control and related security equipment; the proposals attached to…