LOS ANGELES COUNTY : Officials Scramble to Make Case for Cigarette Tax Hike
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Fearful of losing millions of dollars needed to replenish county coffers, local officials scrambled Monday to overturn a decision by a statewide association of county executives to oppose legislation that would increase the taxes on cigarettes as much as 17 cents a pack.
The proposed cigarette tax increase would raise $340 million this year, $114 million of which would go to Los Angeles County.
The board of directors of the California State Assn. of Counties voted last week to reject the tobacco industry-supported plan, which would establish a statewide anti-smoking law while preempting all local anti-smoking ordinances.
Supervisor Mike Antonovich is asking for another vote because he was unable to attend last week’s meeting to argue his case.
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