The price of a pack of smokes may soon jump by 40 cents in Washington County.
On Tuesday, the county’s board of supervisors will consider on first reading an ordinance that would allow the county to impose an excise tax of 40 cents on each pack of cigarettes sold in the county.
The tax would provide revenue and “potentially reduce tobacco use, which may reduce smoking-related illness in the county,” the draft ordinance states.
It’s not the first time the county has considered a cigarette tax. It was discussed, but not approved, in 2021, and it came up again last May. But it was tabled until November when county officials would be done with the annual budget process for the current year, County Administrator Jason Berry said Friday.
He said a number of local governments have approved the tax, including Bristol, Abingdon and Smyth County.
If the board approves moving forward, the county’s planning commission would hold a public hearing and then make a recommendation to the board of supervisors, Berry said. A second and final reading would then be held.
The board’s meeting will start at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the county government center, at 1 Government Center Place in Abingdon. You can view the full agenda here.
