Jump to full article: Nashua (NH) Telegraph, 2008-05-02
Author: KEVIN LANDRIGAN Staff Writer
Intro: Cigarette smokers and those buying wine at big-box stores will pay more under Gov. John Lynch's late-breaking plan to erase a $225 million revenue shortfall between now and June 30, 2009.
The cigarette-tax increase of 25 cents to $1.33 per pack would be the third time in four years the Legislature has raised this levy.
It would raise about $25 million a year.
The tax was 52 cents when Lynch took office in January 2005. . . .
The state can afford to again raise the cigarette tax because a $1 per pack hike in Massachusetts will go into place this July 1 and Maine is seriously considering a hike of its own, Lynch said.
Through 10 months this year, however, the cigarette tax has brought in $12 million, or 8 percent, less than had been expected by now.
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