Cigarette Revenue Drop Surprises Pennsylvania Legislators - Plan the Same for Other Tobacco Products

 

(NACS) HARRISBURG – Pennsylvania cigarette sales are declining, which has some lawmakers eyeing higher taxes on other tobacco products to fill the gap.
The Pennsylvania Independent reports that revenues from cigarette taxes are down 4.6% from last year, which came as a surprise to Matthew Knittel, executive director of the state’s Independent Fiscal Office, who projected closer to a 2% decrease.
Pennsylvania’s cigarette tax is $1.60 per pack, after it was increased by 25 cents in 2009. The national average, as of the start of 2013, is $1.36. Continued