Cigarette Tax Brings in $135 Million in First Year

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By Becky Ogann

Story Created: Mar 19, 2008 at 10:33 AM CST

Story Updated: Mar 19, 2008 at 10:33 AM CST

DES MOINES (AP) - Iowa's cigarette tax, which went up by a $1 a pack, is paying off.

Officials say the increase brought in about $135 million in its first year.

Governor Culver signed the increase into law last March. Jeff Robinson of the Legislative Services Agency says the projections on how much the tax would generate were on target.

The tax has also coincided with an increase in the number of calls to the state's ``Quitline Iowa'' a hot line for smokers looking to quit.

Senate Republican Leader Ron Wieck of Sioux City says while collected revenue from the tax is close to projections, he's disappointed that only about 80 percent of the funds went to smoking-cessation and health programs.

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