Big hike in tobacco tax called ‘win, win, win’

Erin Neff

Tuesday, July 16, 2002 | 11 a.m.

Other states have higher per-pack cigarette taxes than Nevada:

*Current ballot initiative would raise to $1.18.

A panel studying ways to increase the state's revenues will be told Wednesday that raising the tax on tobacco will not only bring in more money, it will also save lives.

Kendall Stagg of the American Cancer Society will tell the Nevada Task Force on Tax Policy that raising the per-pack tax on cigarettes is a "win, win, win."

The three wins Stagg points to are: saving lives, raising revenue and a poll suggesting Nevadans want such a tax.

"Support is so strong in Nevada that they could raise it $1 a pack," Stagg said, referring to a recent statewide poll of more than 500 residents.

"The support is the same for raising the tax 50 cents as it is to raise it $1 a pack."

States nationwide are raising their cigarette taxes, both to raise money and to offset the rising costs of health-related services provided by the government.

Nevada currently has a 35-cent excise tax on each pack of cigarettes, which has not been increased for a decade.

Nevada ranks second behind Kentucky for the highest rate of smoking, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Stagg said the $52 million Nevada brings in each year with its tax is not enough to offset the $417 million-a-year burden that cigarette-linked illnesses place on the state's health infrastructure.

Robin Camacho, director of advocacy and communications for the American Heart Association in Nevada, said that for every 50-cent increase in the cigarette tax, 3,000 children alive today won't die from cigarette smoking.

"We have this ability to not just raise income, but save lives," Camacho said. "Let's double it to a buck and save 6,000 lives."

Stagg is not going to recommend a particular increase to the panel, because he said the decision is ultimately up to each committee member. However, Stagg said most health advocates support a $1 per pack increase, and all support a proposal by state Sen. Raymond Rawson, D-Las Vegas, to raise it 65 cents.

Denise Brodsky, executive director of the Nevada Tobacco Prevention Coalition, said that since most adult smokers begin the habit as teens, it is critical to raise the per-pack tax.

"We know statistically that raising the tax reduces tobacco use among teens and youth because they just can't afford to buy the cigarettes," Brodsky said.

In addition to the presentation about the tobacco tax, the task force will also hear presentations from the Nevada Taxpayers Association about an amusement tax and from a coalition of business community representatives.

"We're basically going to tell them that the coalition group is committed to developing a broad-based tax," said Randy Robison, state director for the National Federation of Independent Business. "Small business, in particular, is willing to participate but at the same time wants to protect the environment that makes it good to do business here in Nevada."

The Nevada Task Force on Tax Policy meets at 8:30 a.m. in Room 4401 of the Sawyer State Office Building, 555 E. Washington Ave.