ADDISON, Vt. — Vermont store owners near the border with New York state say they’re selling more cigarettes to Empire State residents seeking to avoid that state’s higher tobacco tax.
Dana Franklin of the West Addison General Store says sales have gone up since July 1, when New York increased its cigarette tax by $1.60 per pack.
People who buy cigarettes in New York now pay $4.35 a pack in taxes. In Vermont the tax is $2.24.
Franklin tells the Burlington Free Press cigarette sales also increased several years ago after New York increased its tax, but they later fell back after Vermont’s tax increased.
And convenience stores operators in border towns say they also benefit from increased gasoline sales because gas is less expensive in Vermont than New York.