Please let me start by apologizing for not posting the Blog for May/June till now.
You may or may not be aware of the fight we have been engaged in with our legislative representatives in Albany in regards to the proposed increase in Tobacco excise tax. A huge blow has been levied against every Tobacco retailer and smoker in New York State. Because our moronically dysfunctional state legislators can't seem to do anything even remotely close to competent in solving the states 9 billion dollar budget crisis. All smokers in the Empire State now enjoy the highest tobacco excise tax's in the country. Why you ask? Well first we are an industry in free fall, know one in Albany would ever want to be viewed as a friend/supporter of the Tobacco industry. We have lost all the big dollar lobbyists that used to represent the cigarette industry in the hallowed halls. Where back room deals are common and legislators have little or no understanding of the items they are voting on. A system where the tax payer is a helpless pawn to the whims of all special interest groups and powerful state unions. Spineless political hacks continue to add tax's instead of taking the initiative to cut spending and control personal pork barrel projects. The Governor wants to cut the deficit by cutting programs and any revenue raising means possible. Barry and I have been in business for 16 yeras a Virgil . We have invested a great amount of time and money building W.N.Y's finest smoke shop. Over the 16 years we have incurred 4 major tax increases from the state and federal government and the unpressidented control of all tobacco manufacturing and marketing to the FDA! As of July 1st all cigerettes will increase by $1.60 per pack making the price somewhere between $9-$10. depending on location and vendor. This increase came with a floor stock tax, on every pack of cigarettes in your inventory you must pay the state The $1.60 in advance. Our company owed the state about $1200. just to have inventory. Imagine a store that stocks and sells hundreds of packs of cigerettes a week. or an operator that owns several locations.
