For Valdosta smokers, each puff comes with a cost.

The state sales tax alone adds $0.37 to each pack.

But smokers who don't kick the habit may find themselves paying a dollar more by next year.

"It's ridiculous, I'd have to scrape by more," said Rebecca Griggs, a student at Valdosta State. "But it's not gonna make me quit.

"It's outrageous," said Rob Lear, also a VSU student. "I don't have the money to pay for this as a college student."

Under House Bill 39, there'd be an increased tax on tobacco products, including cigarettes and loose tobacco

For Georgia, cigarettes could go up to around $5.53 a pack. Compared to Florida, where the average pack costs $5.48, including its $1.34 state tobacco tax.

It may soon cost more to buy cigarettes in Georgia.

"Most of the folks I've talked to would rather tax tobacco or cigarettes than tax our rural hospitals that are already suffering," said Rep. Jay Shaw, (D) Lakeland, GA.

Some Lawmakers say they're endorsing the dollar-a-pack hike as an alternative to taxing hospitals 1.6 percent of their bottom lines.

But in Valdosta, most of its 68 gas stations rely on cigarette sales.

"If the customers stop buying what they used to buy--more than a pack, or even a carton--if they cut down on smoking it's going to hurt our sales," said Neel Patel, who owns the Citgo One-Stop Mart, on Inner Perimeter Road.

Over the past two days, both health advocates and an anti-tax group protested on the steps of the Georgia Capitol. The tobacco giant, Philip Morris, sponsored today's rally.

If the tax is enacted, annually it would generate $350 million for the state.

But opponents say the state should find other ways to balance its books to plug the deficit.