City Council rejects cigarette tax intended to support Richmond Public Schools

After a recent 1.5% increase in the city’s meals tax, a proposal put forth by Councilman Parker Agelasto to tax cigarettes at a rate of 80 cents per pack was voted down 6-3 Monday night.

Supporters of the new tax say the measure could have produced up to $5.3 million in new revenues annually that would be used to fund badly-needed repairs to city schools. Richmond Public Schools Superintendent Jason Kamras, who supported the tax, said the funding would help reduce the number of open work orders at facilities throughout the city. Currently, that number stands at well over 3,000, he said on the record at the meeting at City Hall.

The measure was rejected by six councilpersons including Andreas Addison, Kimberly Gray, Michael Jones, Cynthia Newbille, Ellen Robertson, and Reva Trammell. Agelasto voted in favor along with Chris Hilbert and Kristen Larson.

More than 60 people spoke both in favor of and against the cigarette tax. Opposition included several convenience store owners who said the tax might deter customers from entering their stores, where they purchase food and other items along with cigarettes. Approximately half of the council chambers were also filled with employees from Richmond-based cigarette producer Phillip Morris USA, Inc., who all donned red shirts reading “NO MORE TAXES!”

Richmond is the only major city in Virginia without a cigarette tax. This is the second time a proposal has been brought forth to tax them, and subsequently failed to pass.

💁🏻‍♀️#RVACouncil So I walked into chambers and saw a bunch of red…. I thought “oh wow, Support Our Schools has a solid showing tonight!” Then, upon further examination their shirts say “NO MORE TAXES.” Sigh, can we please coordinate color difference y’all? pic.twitter.com/WUIxKvp8ad

— RVADirt (@RVAdirt) April 23, 2018