Cigarette Tax Increase Sought in Kansas

Governor Sam Brownback proposes a $1.50 per pack cigarette excise tax increase.

January 19, 2015

TOPEKA, Kans. — Last week, Kansas  Gov. Sam Brownback outlined a budget plan that would nearly triple the state’s cigarette excise tax and boost taxes on alcohol.

The Salina Journal reports that Brownback’s plan would increase the cigarette excise tax from 79 cents to $2.29 a pack, and raise the tax on other tobacco products from 10% to 25%. Taxes on beer, wine and liquor sales at liquor stores would jump to 12% from 8%. The increases would raise $394 million over two years, starting in July.

One Topeka resident told the news source that the cigarette tax would cost him an extra $50 a month, while a cashier at Discount Smokes and Convenience Store said the proposals would hurt people on fixed incomes.

The governor’s proposals also seek to divert funds for highway projects to general government programs. 

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