Increased PA Cigarette Tax Goes Into Effect August 1st
by Tim Jimenez and Trang Do
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Starting Monday, smokers in Pennsylvania will be coughing up more cash.
If you're buying cigarettes in The Keystone State, the arrow is pointing up effective August 1st.
Starting Monday, the Pennsylvania cigarette tax jumps up a dollar to $2.60 per pack. This is because of a compromise revenue plan Governor Wolf signed earlier in July.
The state looks to raise $30+ million a year for the Children's Health Insurance Program and $20 million to preserve state farmland.
And smokers buying in Philadelphia, because of the city's own $2 per pack tax, will be paying nearly $5 in combined taxes per pack.
"It's outrageous. I don't know why they can't manage their money better and they have to keep raising taxes for whatever reason. The mismanagement of government sometimes. Things could be handled better," said Todd from Roxborough.
He says he'll keep doing what he does: buy cigarettes in nearby Montgomery County.
"I don't know. It's a free country, you can do what you want to do. People are just gonna go elsewhere," he said.
Others say it's time to kick the habit.
"I really don't like spending money on it anyways," said Ian.
"I'm going to quit," said Lisa, who smokes about four and a half packs per week, saying she has to act now, "I'm gonna go to bed tonight, I'm gonna say, tomorrow, you're a non smoker."
Phil Kurnitsky of Harry's Smoke Shop in Olde City said it will hurt cigarette sales even more in Philadelphia.
