Submitted by Rick



By JEREMY WALLACE

THE JOURNAL NEWS

(Original publication: November 28, 2003)



The Rockland Legislature is likely to put a proposed cigarette-tax increase into its 2004 budget, despite warnings from state lawmakers not to do it.



Lawmakers will likely include the 25-cents-per-pack tax increase in the spending plan when it goes to a vote of the full Legislature on Tuesday, said Legislator Kenneth Zebrowski, D-New City.



"I think this is something we should fight for," said Zebrowski, the chairman of the Legislature's Budget and Finance Committee.



The cigarette tax would generate about $2.3 million to help fund the government, County Executive C. Scott Vanderhoef predicted in October, when he first included the idea in his proposed budget.



But earlier this month, three state lawmakers sent a letter to county leaders warning them not to bank on getting permission from the state government to implement the tax. County governments don't have the authority to levy cigarette taxes beyond the $1.50 that the state already imposes on each pack. Rockland leaders would need to get special permission from the state Legislature and governor.



Assemblyman Alexander Gromack, D-Congers, and state Sen. Thomas Morahan, R-New City, said they checked with leaders in their respective chambers and came away the impression that getting approval for the tax would be a long shot.



Westchester County sought similar cigarette-tax legislation in Albany in 2002, but the measure failed.



Zebrowski, however, said the idea is too important to give up on so easily. He said the county wants to dedicate money earned from the tax increase to pay for health programs.



"I think this would aid our county's medical and fiscal health," Zebrowski said.



Besides the cigarette tax increase, Vanderhoef has recommended a $567.5 million budget for 2004 that also includes a 9.5 percent property tax increase.



Zebrowski said there was still a chance the proposed property tax increase would be reduced by the Legislature when its proposed budget is released late this week.



The proposed budget also includes a 2.5 percent pay increase for most elected officials, except the county Legislature. Lawmakers initially asked for a 19 percent pay raise, but they have since said they will scale back the proposed raise. They have not said how much they will ask for.



The budget plan also includes a plan to borrow against the remainder of the county's tobacco-settlement funds to pay off past debts. The county already borrowed against 80 percent of the settlement money, and it is now seeking to borrow against the remaining 20 percent.