The Crenshaw County Commission supported a proposed half-cent sales tax bill at the March 26 meeting, but that bill may not make it through the state legislature in time to be put on the November ballot.

The sales tax would provide increased funding to local volunteer fire departments, as well as to the County Commission for public safety.

Under state law, any local legislation must be approved by the Alabama House of Representatives and Senate before it can be put up for a vote in the county.

Following the Commission’s approval of the final proposed bill at Monday’s meeting, the bill must be advertised for four weeks in a newspaper of record, such as The Luverne Journal.

However, because of the Journal’s publishing date, it was discovered that there is not enough time before the end of the regular session for the bill to be advertised and for the legislature to process the bill through both houses.

“We have the possibility of trying again if the Governor calls a special session this summer,” said Crenshaw County Volunteer Fire Association President Stephen Wilson, who has been working with Newton on the proposed bill.