This spring, Basalt might take a page from Aspen’s playbook and bring a tobacco tax before voters.
Councilman Bernie Grauer has several justifications for a tobacco tax: The more tobacco costs, he said, the less it’s used. A tax could also pay for anti-smoking campaigns and education.
If Basalt begins regulating tobacco on its own, however, it will lose funding from the state. Colorado gives communities a cut of all state taxes collected on tobacco, which is about $16,000 for Basalt.
The town council will discuss a possible ballot question at their meeting Tuesday, starting at 5 p.m.
