The results of our Progress Poll from last week may be a bit misleading. Had the question simply been whether or not South Carolina’s cigarette tax should be raised, we could say that 61 percent of our voters said the tax was too low.

However, we gave three choices to those who wouldn’t mind seeing the tax raised. One was for the money from the tax to go to the state’s general fund, so that it could be used for whatever shortfall the legislature deems appropriate. That option was the choice of 18 percent of our voters.

Another 18 percent selected the option of having the extra tax dollars for toward healthcare. The remaining 25 percent said the extra tax money should go to the schools.

So our top vote-getter was the option of not raising the cigarette tax at all, which garnered 39 percent of the vote. And it was a very vocal 39 percent that voted.

“Cigarettes are too high already and people still smoke,” one voter said. “Raising the taxes won’t stop anybody from smoking. It will just put money in politicians’ pockets.”

Another voter said that cutting spending was the key toward balancing the budget, not raising taxes.

“All that raising the cigarette tax will do is delay the inevitable,” the voter wrote. “Gov. Sanford has been warning our state lawmakers that they needed to mend their high-spending ways. If they don’t cut spending, there’s no hope, regardless how many silly taxes they raise.”

Another said he voted against raising the taxes on principal.

“One rule I live by is to never vote for a tax increase of any kind,” the voter wrote. “I don’t smoke, but I don’t believe in giving the government however much money they want to spend.”

Most of the other comments about how to spend the money a higher cigarette tax could raise.

“The money should go to the state general fund, and not be specified for any specific program,” one voter wrote. “That’s the problem we have today. Too much money is earmarked for a special project before it ever reaches Columbia. Lottery money can only go toward scholarships, so we’re laying off teachers while we’re giving away college scholarships.”

Other voters wanted the money earmarked for schools.

“The need for school funding is critical. This tax could be doubly educational. Maybe some of the smokers will also learn the cost of their habit.”

Another said that the money should go toward health care.

“Smoking causes health problems, so the extra tax dollars should help pay for treatment,” the voter wrote. “It’s only right.”

Finally, there was one potential voter who chose to abstain with his vote.

“I didn’t see the option I wanted,” the reader wrote. “I say raise the cigarette taxes, lower the income taxes, and let me keep more of what I work so hard to earn.”