TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL)--Tallahassee city commissioners could be hearing a proposal in September to decide whether to ban future employees from smoking.
Commissioner Scott Maddox says banning city employees save millions of tax payer dollars.
He says currently the city spends just that much every year in healthcare costs on 2800 employees. Commissioner Maddox says current employee who smoke won't be effected.
Although he says they are constantly pushing new programs encouraging current employees to quit. Maddox says the new employees simply won't be hired if they smoke or will be forced to pay higher insurance premiums.
Maddox says not only will city health expenses be cut, but employees will be healthier.
"They know that if they're deciding to take that risk anyway, then they're deciding to take that risk on, and if so they should pay a little bit more for their health insurance whether then passing the cost to the taxpayers," said Maddox.
Maddox says if commissioners give the proposal a shot, there could be some action taken in September.
