New Cook County, Illinois, Cigarette Tax

As part of a broad effort to raise revenue and promote health and safety, the Cook County, Illinois, Board of Commissioners voted last week to levy a $1 tax on the sale of cigarettes. The measure was approved 16 to 1, and is scheduled to take effect on March 1, 2013.

Taxes on a pack of cigarettes will now total $6.67 in Cook County, making the cost of a pack of cigarettes in the Chicago area more than $10. Only New York City has a higher taxes on cigarettes, at $6.86 per pack. The tax could add $26 million to the county coffer each year.

What about smokers upset by the cigarette tax hike? Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle has a piece of advice: "They should quit."

The 2013 budget also cuts sales tax by a quarter-cent, reducing the county portion of the sales tax to 0.75 percent after January 1, 2013. In addition, it imposes a 1.25 percent use tax on out-of-county purchases of more than $3,500, and a gambling tax. Slot machines will be taxed $1,000-per-year, and video gambling terminals will be taxed $200-per-year.