Kentucky Farm Bureau Favors Tobacco Tax Increase, With a Catch

Source from:  WAVY 10  01/19/2005

FRANKFORT, Ky. New sides are being taken in the continuing debate over tobacco tax increases -- and supporters have a new and surprising ally. Kentucky Farm Bureau President Sam Moore told a legislative meeting in Frankfort today that tobacco tax increases are inevitable and the Farm Bureau supports them. There is a catch. Moore told lawmakers the tax increase should NOT be above the average of the surrounding states. Depending on how that's counted, it could be a tax of 41 cents to 46 cents a pack. Kentucky's tax is now three cents a pack, the lowest in the nation. Even Virginia -- which formerly had the lowest rate at two-point-five cents a pack -- has raised its cigarette tax in recent years. An additional ten cent increase will take effect July 1st, boosting the total state levy to 30 cents. Taxes in adjacent states range from 17 cents in Missouri to 98 cents in Illinois. Enditem