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Wilmington councilman introduces resolution seeking ability to levy city cigarette tax
Summary
Councilman Kobe J. Owens introduced a resolution asking the Delaware General Assembly to allow Wilmington to levy a tax on cigarette packs sold inside city limits; the measure was referred to full City Council and committee members discussed expanding any tax to cover vaping and other tobacco products.
Councilman Kobe J. Owens introduced a resolution at the Wilmington City Council Health, Environmental, Aging and Disabilities Committee on May 21, 2025, asking the Delaware General Assembly to give the city authority to levy a per‑pack tax on cigarettes sold within Wilmington’s boundaries.
The resolution, Owens said, is intended to support the city’s strategic plan for a healthier Wilmington and to raise local revenue that would fund public‑safety and other city services. He told the committee that research shows “for every 10% that the price goes up for cigarettes, about 6 to 7% usage of youth goes down,” and said the measure would mirror city cigarette taxes in places such as Philadelphia and New York and align with recommendations from the American Lung Association.
Why it matters: Owens said Delaware already has a cigarette tax but the revenue currently goes to the state; the proposed authority would let Wilmington keep revenue from cigarettes sold inside the city to support local programs including crime prevention and cold‑case units and housing initiatives. Owens described the item as a resolution to be sent to the state legislature for authorization, not a city tax ordinance adopted at this meeting.
Committee discussion and public comment focused on scope and priorities. Councilman Alexander Hackett urged the committee to consider other tobacco products, saying vaping and other non‑cigarette nicotine products are “hitting the market” and are a youth health concern. Owens said he was “100%” open to working with members on additional approaches to reduce youth tobacco use and to keep city air clean.
A member of the public who identified himself as Marshall opposed the proposal in public comment, saying the city should prioritize crime reduction and other issues before taxing smokers; Owens responded to the comment by noting the city had requested a 3% marijuana tax when the state legalized it and reiterated the city does not now receive cigarette tax revenue collected by the state.
Formal outcome and next steps: Owens said the item is a resolution that does not require a committee vote and will be referred to the full City Council agenda. No formal motion to adopt a tax or ordinance was made in committee; the resolution’s referral to the next City Council meeting was announced as the administrative next step.
Discussion vs. decision: Committee members discussed the public‑health rationale and how the tax could affect youth smoking rates and revenue use; Hackett and Owens raised the question of whether future measures should explicitly cover vaping and other tobacco products. The only formal action recorded in committee was referral of the resolution to the next City Council agenda for consideration and possible later formal action.
Ending note: The resolution seeks state authorization rather than city adoption at this meeting; if the General Assembly permits cities to levy such taxes, Wilmington’s elected officials would need to return to the City Council to propose and approve any local ordinance that actually imposes a tax.
