Tobacco tax jumps Wednesday

  Yuman Elizabeth Brown has tried to stop smoking more than 12 times in just over a decade - and she might try again when a new tobacco tax goes into effect Wednesday.

  But Brown isn't the only one worried. Some local retailers say they're worried the increase will hurt business.

  The new federal tax will fund the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), or KidsCare in Arizona, and will give states matching funds for family health insurance. President Obama signed the $32 billion reuathorization law in February.

  The tax will increase the cost of cigarettes by 62 cents and will bring the cost to around $8 a pack in Arizona.

  At a pack a day, that means a smoker in Arizona can expect to spend almost $3,000 a year.

  And Brown, who said she smokes about a half a pack a day, said it's
going to be expensive.

  "With the economy the way it is, people are going to ask themselves 'Is
it gas, a loaf of bread or cigarettes' what they really need," Brown said.

  But it's not just smokers who are concerned.

  After nine years in business, Mike Byelick, owner of MD Cigars in the Foothills, said he's concerned the tax increase will make it hard to stay in business.

  "This hurts my business in a tremendous way. How am I going to stay in business? I don't know."

  Byelick said he doesn't like the tax increase because he doesn't even have health care, nor is he able to provide it for his employees.

  "We're the one business in town paying for everyone's health care," Byelick said.

  In the week before the price change, employees at the store were changing prices.

  And a popular item in the store, roll-your-own tobacco, has one of the biggest tax increases at more than 2,000 percent. Taxes on the tobacco will increase from $1.09 per pound to $24.62 per pound.

  Byelick said the tax applies to stock he has left in the store as of Wednesday, with the exception of large cigars.

  Michael DeSalvo, manager of Yuma Cigars, said he'll probably see fewer customers because of the increase.

  DeSalvo said he's not happy about it, and neither are the customers, who have already been talking about the change.

  "I think it's going to force a lot of people to quit," Byelick said.

  For those who want to quit, the Arizona Department of Health Services Tobacco Education Prevention has a program to help.

  Mary Ehlert, marketing director with the department, said the Arizona Smoker's Helpline, or ASHLine, can provide assistance, including a personalized help coach.

  And, Ehlert said, ASHLine is paid for by tobacco sales tax revenue, and in a way, smokers have already paid for it.

  "There's no better time to quit," Ehlert said. "Just give it another time and just save yourself some money."

  Ehlert said the agency estimates it will lose approximately 10 percent of its revenue.

  "We see a hit in our revenue when our tax goes up," Ehlert said.

  She said the agency saw "significant drops" in revenue after the last increase in 2006, but then it came back up.

  Yuma resident Angelina Croft, who smokes about a pack a day, said she's "not happy" about the increase.

  She said it will probably cause her to cut back.

  Michael Phillips, of Yuma, said he smokes about a pack of cigarettes a day, and "it's bad as it is now."

  Phillips, who has two children with Croft, said he'll eventually quit smoking, but now, when it comes to items for his family or cigarettes, he takes care of his family.

  "My kids come first, no matter what before me."

  For more information on how to quit, visit www.ashline.org or call 1-800-556-6222.

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Stephanie A. Wilken can be reached at swilken@yumasun.com or 539-6857.