AJC.com > Opinion > Opinion Talk > Archives > 2008 > July > 25
Friday, July 25, 2008
Should cigarette tax be hiked in Georgia?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
State Rep. Ron Stephens (R-Savannah) writes: “There is a logical and … fiscally sound alternative to fill the huge [state] budget gap, and it’s a plan that 75 percent of Georgians say they support: Raise the excise tax on a pack of cigarettes by $1. The increase would put an estimated $612 million into the state’s coffers.”
“Georgia currently has one of the lowest tobacco taxes in the country, at 37 cents per pack, while smoking-caused health costs and productivity losses in Georgia equal $9.02 for every pack of cigarettes sold in the state,” he notes.
Do you favor hiking the cigarette tax in Georgia?
Permalink | Comments (33) | Categories: Forum
