Editing Houston, Alaska (section)

==Legal firework sales==

Houston, Alaska is home to the Gorilla Fireworks Stand along its [[Parks Highway]], providing a wide range of pyrotechnic explosions and products to the public.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schreck |first=Carly |title=Residents flock to Houston ahead of New Year's Eve celebration |url=https://www.alaskasnewssource.com/2022/12/31/residents-flock-houston-ahead-new-years-eve-celebration/ |access-date=January 24, 2023 |website=alaskasnewssource.com |date=December 31, 2022 |language=en}}</ref> The city allows the sale of fireworks, which are prohibited throughout the [[Mat-Su Borough]] and [[Anchorage, Alaska|Anchorage]], and the sales taxes generated from those help pay for emergency services. These stands are the only place to purchase fireworks legally in [[Southcentral Alaska]], and provide entertainment to many residents and visitors of the state. Taxes from fireworks sales at Houston's parks highway stands cover 10-15% of the city fire department's budget.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hollander |first=Zaz |date=September 28, 2014 |title=Houston bolsters fire department with fireworks tax take |url=https://www.adn.com/alaska-news/article/houston-bolsters-fire-department-fireworks-tax-take/2014/01/01/ |access-date=January 24, 2023 |website=Anchorage Daily News |language=en}}</ref>

Fireworks buyers are charged a 2% sales tax, plus an additional 2% tax.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fritts |first=Janelle |date=July 3, 2019 |title=Fireworks Sales Spark an Explosion of Taxes and Fees |url=https://taxfoundation.org/fireworks-taxes-2019/ |access-date=January 24, 2023 |website=Tax Foundation |language=en-US}}</ref> This policy was approved by the voters of Houston in 2010, and was made permanent by the City Council. The additional tax was meant to “promote increased public safety”, and all the tax take goes to the fire department.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Chapter 8.05 Fireworks Control |url=https://www.codepublishing.com/AK/Houston/html/Houston08/Houston0805.html |access-date=January 24, 2023 |website=www.codepublishing.com}}</ref>