ROCKINGHAM COUNTY, Va. (ROCKTOWN NOW) – As expected, the Rockingham County Board of Supervisors unanimously voted to adopt the county’s cigarette tax.

The tax would add two cents per cigarette sold in the county, or an average of 40 cents per pack.

Speaking at Wednesday afternoon’s meeting, Attorney Thomas Miller explained that the county, unlike some localities, hiked the tax all the way to the maximum point allowed by the Blue Ridge Cigarette Tax Board. The Rockingham County Board of Supervisors will join that group with the adoption of the new cigarette tax.

“You all went to the max, and just for informational purposes, a lot of localities do not tax the maximum,” Miller said. “Some localities start off low and work their way up over time, but two cents-per cigarette is the maximum.”

The tax increase is expected to take effect July 1.