Survey: Most back raising cigarette tax

SPECIAL TO THE VINDICATOR

COLUMBUS — Most Ohioans support increasing taxes on cigarettes instead of cutting services or increasing other taxes, according to a survey released by an anti- smoking group Wednesday.

The study, conducted in late January, was commissioned by the American Lung Association, the American Heart Association, the American Cancer Society and the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.

A total of 64 percent of 808 likely Ohio voters polled said they preferred increasing the state cigarette tax from the current $1.25 level to help balance the state budget.

Less than 35 percent supported increasing sales or income taxes or funding cuts to health care and other state services.

The groups say increasing Ohio’s cigarette tax by $1 would bring in nearly $300 million in additional revenues each year and would save the state more than $2 billion in health care costs, as fewer people start smoking and more people quit.

“Anytime the tax goes up, the consumption goes down,” said Beverly May, a director of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.

Shelly Kiser, director of Advocacy for the American Lung Association in Ohio, said the groups will use the survey results to push state lawmakers to consider a cigarette- tax increase.