Virginia sales and cigarette tax increases approved during the 2004 General Assembly session went into effect this month.
The total sales and use tax rose to five percent. The state cigarette tax escalated from 2.5 to 20 cents per pack, a figure that will increase to 30 cents beginning July 1, 2005.
The sales and use tax generally has slipped by unnoticed, as the increase has shown little impact on local sales and customer trends.
While students and community members in Charlottesville generally have not responded strongly to the sales tax rise, the steeper increase in the cigarette tax has led to more vocalized opinions in the area.
"There's been a little more whining, but that's it," said Dave Sherman, an employee at the Corner Market. "People gotta have [their cigarettes]. We can quit, or we can pay."
Individual smoking preferences often polarized opinions toward Gov. Mark R. Warner's plan.
"Since I'm not a smoker, I'm not directly affected, but I would hope [the tax] will discourage people from getting into the habit," said first-year Nursing student Laura Czarnik.
In addition to the recent increases, tax changes initiated by Warner will continue to affect the state of Virginia with further changes to the tax code. Future plans reportedly include reducing the food tax, increasing income taxes on some and providing tax relief for military and National Guard families.
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