Iowa’s cigarette tax would more than double — to $2.86 a pack — under a proposal made Tuesday to Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds.

The proposal, supported by a coalition of groups including the American Heart Association and the American Cancer Society, would increase the current tax by $1.50, according to the group’s estimates.

The state’s current tax is the 29th lowest in the nation, where the average is $1.72 per pack, according to the Campaign for Tabaco-Free Kids.

Iowa hasn’t increased its cigarette tax in 11 years. The group would prefer all or some of the tax be used to help pay for Iowa’s ongoing healthcare needs.

“I know it’s sometimes daunting to think about tax increases,” said Stacy Frelund, the Iowa government relations director for the heart association. “But we could have approximately $106.14 million that would be brought in from that tax. It would mean 19,000 youth would never become smokers and 22,000 adults would quit.”

Iowa’s health care costs associated with tobacco use are $1.28 billion a year, according to information the group provided Reynolds.

The pitch was made as part of a public budget hearing at the Capitol where officials spoke on behalf of about 20 different groups. Groups such as Des Moines University asked Reynolds to consider allocating $250,000 to launch a public-private partnership to help provide mental health treatment across the state.

Iowa lawmakers are expected to face between $45 million to $90 million in budget cuts in the current fiscal year that ends June 30 following budget estimates released earlier this week.

Reynolds declined to comment on the presentations Tuesday, including whether she favors increasing the cigarette tax. She said that her staff would need time to review the requests and ideas.

“We’ll take a look at everything,” Reynolds said following Tuesday’s presentations.





NOTE: An earlier version of this article inaccurately identified Stacy Frelund’s affiliation. She is the American Heart Association Iowa government relations director.