18-cent cigarette tax increase begins today

An 18-cent cigarette tax increase in the state of Wisconsin goes into effect today, raising the state cigarette tax from 59 to 77 cents per pack. 

 

 

 

The increase will give Wisconsin the ninth highest cigarette tax in the nation and the highest among neighboring states, surpassing Michigan's 75 cent per pack tax. 

 

 

 

The tax was included in the budget passed by the state Legislature and signed by Gov. Scott McCallum this summer and is expected to raise $70 million per year, which will be used to fund a new prescription drug benefit for low-income senior citizens.