September 18, 2006

Legislator Toback & Majority Members Consider County Cigarette Tax to raise revenues

Could bring in $70M a year!

Nassau County Legislator Jeffrey Toback (D-Oceanside), and fellow majority members, is investigating the possibility of raising revenue for the county with a County cigarette tax. Majority Legislators have asked county executives from all 56 counties in the state to join with Nassau County in supporting this initiative. This initiative would require state legislation. According to Toback and the Office of Legislative Budget Review, a county cigarette tax of $1 could bring from $50- $70 million in tax revenue into the county’s coffers.

“This is a great opportunity for the county to raise much-needed revenues that will go towards essential health and public safety programs and initiatives,” said Legislator Toback. “I am hopeful that our fellow counties will see the importance of this new cigarette tax and that the State will see that it gets approved.”

“Despite the fact that Nassau County is on good financial footing, our revenues still can’t keep pace with our growing, state-mandated expenditures and unfair school aid funding. That’s why we need to look for creative and acceptable ways to raise more revenue that won’t be too onerous on the residents of Nassau County.” said Presiding Officer Judy Jacobs (Woodbury). “We believe a county tax on cigarettes would accomplish that.”

Legislator Lisanne Altmann (D-Great Neck) stated, “As legislators, we need to be creative in searching for new revenue streams that will help taxpayers, not hurt them. We have spent the past five years looking under every rock for savings, but it’s time for instituting long-term changes into the future.”

Part of the proceeds from the tax could be used as a dedicated revenue stream for the Nassau University Medical Center and other health and public safety-related issues.

If approved by Albany lawmakers and the county legislature, a cigarette tax could go into effect in 2008.