CIGARETTE TAX BECOMES FUNDING OPTION FOR BREWERS STADIUM

     A regional cigarette tax surfaced yesterday "as an option"
to fund a new Brewers stadium, according to Sam Martino of the
MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL.  The idea came up as Republican
legislators and officials from seven southeastern WI counties met
to discuss alternatives to the an increase in the sales and hotel
tax in Milwaukee and Waukesha counties.  Officials said the
cigarette tax "was only one of several ideas" discussed in
separate meetings yesterday.  Among the other options considered:
a new or additional car rental tax, a new or additional food and
beverage tax, a tax on items sold at the stadium, eliminating the
$500,000 annual sales tax exemption for sky boxes, and a 0.5%
City of Milwaukee sales tax that would help raise $23.6M/year
(MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 8/29).