Avon, Colo. Voters Approve Additional Tobacco Tax

Smokers in Avon, Colo. will soon be paying more for their tobacco products as voters passed a proposal that will add a $3 per pack local tax on cigarettes and a 40% local tax on the sale of other tobacco products such as premium cigars, as Ballot Issue 2B passed with just over 76 percent of voters supporting it.

The matter was added to the November election ballot after the city raised the minimum age to purchase tobacco products to 21-years-old in September, which in turn prevented the collection of tobacco tax revenues issued by the state. According to a statement issued by the town, passage of the age increase resulted in the forfeiture of its share of state cigarette tax revenues of approximately $42,000 per year. The town estimated that it may collect as much as $600,000 for the local tobacco and nicotine tax in the first year if Ballot Issue 2B passed. That revenue will be directed to the town’s general fund and used in the same manner as the town’s share of the state cigarette tax revenues.

The move is similar to one passed in Aspen last year and is in addition to Colorado’s current statewide tax of 40 percent of the wholesale price on other tobacco products and 84 cents per pack on cigarettes.

The increase goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2019.

Avon is home to approximately 6,500 people and is located in the central part of the state, just over 100 miles west of Denver.