Dalton Smoke Free

The City of Dalton has given its some 450 employees over a year to quit smoking. And, in three months, time will be up. All city buildings will be tobacco free.

In a last ditch effort to help employees quit, the City will pay half of the $350 it costs for nicotine shots.

Dalton's Director of Human Resources, Greg Batts, said employees who kick the habit help themselves, and the cities health care budget.

"We want our employees to be healthier. We want them to have more productive lives and live longer and hopefully, as a side benefit, it will reduce out long term health plan costs as well," said Batts.

Employees who continue to smoke after January 1st will have to pay higher health care premiums and take their smoke break off city property.