Estimated read time: 1-2 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
A good way for Utah lawmakers to make up most of the additional $50 million shortfall in the latest revenue projection for next fiscal year is to raise the tax on tobacco.
KSL views a tobacco tax increase as more of a health measure than a source of income for the state. The fact a dollar a pack increase on cigarettes would generate some $46 million in new tax revenue is a bonus.
Experts say such a tax increase would prompt as many as 11,000 Utahns to quit smoking and keep perhaps 15,000 children from taking up the habit. With such stunning figures on the table, it is baffling why Utah continues to have one of the lowest tax rates on tobacco products of any state in the nation. In fact, it is downright embarrassing that Utah's tax of 69-cents a pack is far below the $1.46 national average for non-tobacco producing states.
The lobbying in coming days is sure to be intense as tobacco industry representatives converge to keep Utah in their fold. For the health and well-being of all Utahns, as well as the revenue it will generate, KSL urges lawmakers to resist Big Tobacco's full-court press and pass a hefty increase in the tobacco tax.
