Governor Peter Shumlin says he’s putting together a plan to ease
property tax burdens in communities that have suffered enormous damage
from Tropical Storm Irene.
It’s
about to get more expensive to buy cigarettes in Vermont. The tax on a pack of cigarettes will increase 38 cents beginning this Friday, July 1st. The increase is part of a package of tax increases designed to bring in $24
million in additional revenue to state coffers.
The
Coalition for a Tobacco Free Vermont says it’s disappointed with Governor Peter
Shumlin’s efforts to fight a one-dollar increase in the state cigarette tax. And
the Coalition questions how a "health care" governor could oppose their plan
The
Vermont Senate has rejected a plan to increase the state tax on cigarettes by a
dollar a pack. The plan was designed to raise $9 million to help
balance next year’s budget. The
action raises new questions about how the budget shortfall will be
addressed.
VPR’s Jane Lindholm talks the pros and cons of increasing the cigarette tax with the coordinator of the Coalition for a Tobacco Free Vermont, and the president of the Vermont Grocers’ Association.
A
plan to raise Vermont’s cigarette tax by a dollar a pack is running into
some strong resistance at the Statehouse. Advocates say the tax will help fund quit smoking programs. But Governor
Peter Shumlin says it will cost the state a lot of money.