What Fargo Voters Say About Measure 4

At the Fargo Public Library it seems like there’s three main ballot measures that are really sparking a lot of either opposition or support and those would be measure three, measure four, and measure 5.

Measure 4 proposes an increase on cigarette taxes.

Some feel that’s unfairly targeting smokers.

“You know you’re kind of just taking advantage of the people who you already think of as having a problem,” says voter Tyron Winfre.

Others however feel health costs from smoking related illnesses end up costing the community in the long run.

“In a sense we’re taxing the whole community’s health insurance systems by not putting an end to smoking,” says voter Janet Geston.

Opponents argue that more of the revenue generated by the taxes should go towards prevention programs.

“It could also go to better benefits like programs to help people with an addiction,” says Winfre.

Even those in favor of the measure say the wording on where funds will go may be a little too open; they feel the nonsmoking message is more important.

“I know that there are groups that think that the other parts of that bill should have been better formulated and I agree with them but I still think the main part of it is the tax on cigarettes and I think that is a good thing to do,” says Geston.