FERRIDAY, La. – A 3/4-cent sales tax increase Ferriday voters approved Saturday will take effect Jan. 1, Glen Willard, the Concordia Parish School Board’s sales tax collector, said Monday.

In all, 434 voters, or 57.56 percent, cast their ballots for the tax, while 320 people, or 42.44 percent, voted against it.

Ferriday’s current sales tax rate is 9 percent, which brought $830,000 into the town’s general fund during the 1998-99 fiscal year. The tax increase would bring in an additional $315,000 a year.

That will be used to upgrade city departments, from police and fire to roads and garbage service, Mayor Odeal Montgomery said.

William Rucker, head of the Town Council’s Finance Committee, said the town told the State Bond Commission that the money would be used only for the Police and Fire departments.

&uot;I think that is the only way we can spend it,&uot;&160;Rucker said.

Still, having the additional sales tax proceeds will free up the town’s existing funds for other purposes, Rucker said.

&uot;The town needs that money,&uot;&160;he said.