MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Va. – Some people will have to start paying more for cigarettes in Montgomery County.
In a 4-3 vote, the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors approved a measure allowing the county to collect 40 cents on cigarettes sold in “unincorporated areas” outside the towns.
Board members said the money collected from the tax is about $200,000, and it’ll go to the Parks and Recreation Department.
Some board members are split on the issue.
“I think a better way to promote revenue would be to promote economic growth and prosperity of pro-business, and not putting that burden back on our businesses,” said Sherri Blevins, a board member.
Other board members support the tax.
“The tax made sense to me, it’s not like I hate cigarette smokers I don’t, but we have such a limited number of options to generate revenue, we need to spread around the burden,” Sarah Bohn, another board member, said
The tax will go into effect on July 1.