PITTSBURG, Kan. — The Pittsburg City Commission voted to begin preparations to renew the emergency service sales tax on Tuesday evening. Funds raised by the 0.5 percent tax are earmarked for use by the city’s police and fire departments to purchase, upgrade, or replace needed equipment. According to City Manager Daron Hall, the tax was first collected in 2013 and is due to expire on Dec. 31 of this year.