Sparta adopts $476,000 tax levy

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[ The Sparta City Council held a quick meeting Monday approving an ordinance levying taxes for the next fiscal year. The amount of $475,983 was a little higher than last year's levy.

A discussion of the Connect CTY program was put on hold until the Dec. 22 meeting, according to City Coordinator Corey Rheinecker. The Connect CTY is a new, high-tech city-wide alert program, which has been implemented by a number of area communities It should facilitate emergency responses.

Rheinecker said the city is still waiting on funds from a Department of Homeland Security grant to purchase a new aerial fire truck.