HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) – Highlights of an estimated $1.3 billion tax and revenue package scheduled for votes Wednesday in the Pennsylvania Legislature for the 2016-17 budget year that started July 1:
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CASINO GAMBLING EXPANSION: Assumes $100 million from gambling legislation that is on hold until the fall, primarily from licensing fees for legalizing internet gambling.
PHILADELPHIA CASINO: Books $75 million in expected license fees from Philadelphia casino that was awarded a license in 2014.
CIGARETTES: Increases the per-pack excise tax on cigarettes by $1 to $2.60 to generate $430 million.
LOAN: Borrows $200 million from a surplus in a state medical malpractice insurance fund, to be paid by over a five-year period starting July 1, 2018.
WINE AND LIQUOR: Projects a month-old law liberalizing the sale of wine and liquor will generate $149 million.
TAX DELINQUENTS: Allows tax delinquents to pay back taxes without penalty to generate $100 million.
SALES TAX DISCOUNT: Lowers the amount of sales tax collections that retailers may keep to generate $55 million.
TOBACCO: Imposes a 55-cents-per-ounce tax on roll-your-own tobacco and smokeless tobacco to generate about $50 million.
DIGITAL DOWNLOADS: Eliminates an exemption from the state’s 6 percent sales tax on the download of digital videos, books, games, music and applications to generate $47 million.
BANKS: Raises rate of shares tax on bank and trust companies to 0.95 percent, from 0.89 percent, to generate $23 million.
TABLE GAMES: Imposes a new 2 percent tax on casinos’ gross revenue from table games to generate $17 million.
INCOME TAX: Extends 3.07 percent state income tax to Pennsylvania Lottery winnings to generate $16 million.
ELECTRONIC CIGARETTES: Imposes a 40 percent tax on the wholesale price of electronic cigarettes, including vapor producing devices and liquid cartridges, to generate $13 million.
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Source: Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press.
