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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- Utah Gov. Gary Herbert is letting a tobacco tax increase go into law without his signature.
House Bill 196 will raise taxes on a number of tobacco products.
A pack of cigarettes will cost $1 more. The tax on cigars will increase from 35 to 86 percent of the manufacturer's sale price. And the tax on moist snuff, or dipping tobacco, will rise from 75 cents to $1.83 per ounce.
Herbert has repeatedly said he opposes increasing taxes, but the tobacco tax was built into the budget agreed to by him and legislative leaders.
Herbert said in a statement Wednesday that it would be fiscally irresponsible for him to veto the tobacco tax.
He said a veto would create an imbalance in the state budget, particularly in the areas of public and higher education.
The tax takes effect July 1.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
