Westchester County Menthol Ban May cost the County Millions in Overtime and Staffing
County Legislator James Nolan asked how the new menthol ban would affect the operations of the Health Department
In a recent Department of Health presentation on the 2023 Operating Budget. Commissioner Sherlita Amler and First Deputy Commissioner Renee Recchia Deputy Commissioner Chris Ericson attended the meeting from the health department.
County Legislator James Nolan asked how the new menthol ban would affect the operations of the Health Department. The response was that the department would have to hire staff, may cost over time, and in some cases will involve the local police department.
The representatives could not give a specific answer because they had not seen the legislation. Unfortunately for the taxpayers, there are more unanswered questions than answers.
According to Westchester County Legislator James Nolan, by passing this Menthol Ban, Westchester County is willing to throw away $36 million in Sales Tax Revenue on menthol-flavored cigarettes. The County collects an additional $5 million on other flavored tobacco products.
If passed, the County will lose all the tax dollars from banning menthol sales, on the one hand, then spend more tax dollars on the other to pay for enforcement of the Menthol ban.
This is not good business!
