Phila. cigarette tax vote likely coming Monday
HARRISBURG - The state House of Representatives is expected to vote Monday on legislation authorizing the city of Philadelphia to impose a $2-per-pack cigarette tax to help fund its cash-strapped schools, legislative leaders said.
HARRISBURG - The state House of Representatives is expected to vote Monday on legislation authorizing the city of Philadelphia to impose a $2-per-pack cigarette tax to help fund its cash-strapped schools, legislative leaders said.
City and school officials say the tax will help the school district plug an $81 million deficit - and that without it, the district would have to lay off school personnel and could see its class sizes swell to 40 or more.
If the bill passes the House, the cigarette tax will still need approval from the GOP-controlled Senate, where legislative leaders have said the bill is high on its priority list. Gov. Corbett has said he would sign it.
- Angela Couloumbis
