Albany to Raise Taxes on Cigarettes

Gov. David Paterson announced over the weekend that he plans to raise cigarette tax statewide.
Albany to Raise Taxes on Cigarettes
Jack Phillips
6/20/2010
Updated:
6/20/2010
Gov. David Paterson announced over the weekend that he plans to raise cigarette tax statewide. The proposal will be included in his next budget-extending legislation.

The new tax is slated to place $1.60 tax on the cost of a pack of cigarettes, raising it from $2.75 to $4.35—higher than the previous proposal to add $1 per pack. The taxes are projected to raise $290 million in extra revenue to help close a budget gap of $9.2 billion, reported Business Week.

Additional taxes will also be placed on various other tobacco products, such as chewing tobacco and cigars. The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids lauded the decision, with their president Kevin O'Flaherty saying it’s a boon for kids and consumers across the state.

“The planned tobacco tax increase is a tremendous victory for public health that will prevent kids from smoking, motivate smokers to quit, and save lives and health care dollars,” O'Flaherty said.
Jack Phillips is a breaking news reporter with 15 years experience who started as a local New York City reporter. Having joined The Epoch Times' news team in 2009, Jack was born and raised near Modesto in California's Central Valley. Follow him on X: https://twitter.com/jackphillips5
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