Fairfax County officials today are expected to officially schedule an Aug. 2 public hearing on their plans to raise the county’s cigarette tax to 30 cents per pack by next summer.
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors wants to enact a tax that would be equal to the state cigarette-tax increase the Republican-controlled General Assembly passed two months ago. The legislature voted to raise the state’s cigarette tax from 2.5 cents per pack to 20 cents on Sept. 1 and to 30 cents by next year to help balance the state’s budget.
“I would anticipate we will enact a tax in the amount of the state’s,” said Board Chairman Gerald E. Connolly, a Democrat.
If the county’s cigarette-tax increase is approved, smokers who purchase cigarettes in Fairfax County will pay an estimated 60 cents in state and county taxes per pack by next summer.
The current cigarette tax in each county is 5 cents per pack. If approved, the 20-cents-per-pack-tax in Fairfax County would take effect Sept. 1, and the 30-cents-per-pack-tax would take effect July 1, 2005.
When asked whether the board would vote against such a tax, Supervisor Elaine McConnell, Springfield Republican, said, “Oh, no. There’s no doubt. We need the money.”
Fairfax and Arlington are the only two of 95 counties in Virginia that are allowed by the General Assembly to impose their own cigarette taxes, although state law prevents them from exceeding the new state rates.
Cities and towns are permitted to impose levies in addition to the state cigarette taxes. Since July 1, Falls Church and Manassas have tacked on a 50-cents-per-pack tax, and Dumfries imposed 30 cents per pack.
Officials in neighboring Arlington County on Saturday agreed to impose taxes equal to the state tax: 20 cents per pack beginning Sept. 1, and 30 cents per pack beginning July 1, 2005.
Arlington officials estimate that the increases would bring $1.4 million into the treasury this fiscal year, which they said would allow for some relief in property taxes.
Fairfax County officials estimate that the tax increases would bring in about $11.5 million a year. The increase could allow the board to lower the county’s real-estate taxes, said Supervisor Sharon Bulova, Braddock Democrat, who also is chairman of the board’s budget committee.
However, Supervisor Michael R. Frey, Sully Republican, said he plans to urge that the increased cigarette taxes partially be used to reduce or eliminate fees for use of athletic fields and equipment.
“The athletic fee is the stupidest thing we’ve ever done,” Mr. Frey said, explaining that it might reduce participation in recreation in an era when youth gang activity seems to be increasing.
The state has been collecting 2.5 cents per pack since 1966, when the tax rate was lowered from 3 cents per pack. Virginia colonists were the first to raise tobacco as a cash crop 400 years ago.
Sixteen states charge $1 or more per pack in taxes, and the national average is 58 cents per pack.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.