A 5 percent sales tax on pot is before the Ketchikan City Council tonight. (KRBD file photo)

A 5 percent sales tax on pot is before the Ketchikan City Council tonight. (KRBD file photo)

The Ketchikan City Council is a step closer to imposing a 5 percent tax on marijuana sales.

Council members approved a first reading of an ordinance levying the sales tax during Thursday’s regular meeting. The 5 percent would be in addition to the city’s existing 6.5 percent tax.

Further discussion and a final vote will take place at a future meeting, possibly later this month.

The council also OK’d plans to keep property taxes at the current rate of 6.7 mills. But increased assessments will raise many property owners’ bills.