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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 05141996 - C45 ATO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Contr� .. {� FROM: Costa � _�� .">-��-" William Walker, Health Services Director ya County -w April 26 1996 DATE! SUBJECT: Maintain Proposition 99 Tobacco Tax Funding SPECIFIC REQUEST(S)OR RECOMMENDATION(S)&BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION RECOMMENDATIONS Approve the attached resolution supporting full funding of tobacco prevention and education activities as approved by California voters in 1988 when Proposition 99 was passed. Send the approved resolution to each of Contra Costa County's state legislators and to city officials throughout Contra Costa County. FISCAL IMPACT: Tobacco prevention and education funding has decreased significantly since initial funding in FY 1989. Currently, tobacco prevention and education activities in Contra Costa County are funded at $110,000, the same minimum level as the smallest counties in the state. The State Legislature approved program funding at 10% of the 25 cent tax, rather than the 20% approved by the voters. The additional funding has been frozen because of a court injunction. Another $33 million, some of it presumably available to our county, is being held in a reserve Health Education account and could be released immediately. BACKGROUND In August 1995, the California Legislature, after only one week, passed SB 493, diverting tobacco tax funds to other programs and reducing Contra Costa's tobacco prevention project funding by 45.6%. Although a state court had previously ruled the diversions illegal and an injunction was granted on September 1 freezing the diversions, the Legislature will have now have to act to reallocate the funding. Two court cases are pending related to the diversions. Regardless of the outcome of those court cases, by June 1996, the Legislature must reauthorize the program. As a result of the legislative action, our Tobacco Prevention Project has had to reduce its staffing. Working with the community and other county agencies, it is in the process of identifying which of its activities could be "adopted." Although the Project is still committed to insuring that funding is available to local grassroots prevention efforts, obviously there is significantly less money now available for that purpose. CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: _YES SIGNATURE: RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE APPROVE OTHER SIGNATURE (S): ACTION OF BOARD ON May 14 , 1996 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED X OTHER VOTE OF SUPERVISORS I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE X UNANIMOUS(ABSENT _} AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN AYES: NOES: AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD ABSENT: ABSTAIN: OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN, Contact Person: Wendel Brunner, M.D. May 14 , 1996 CC: ATTESTED Health Services AtAni.stratibn PHIL BATCHELOR,CLERK OF THE BOARD OF Public Health Administration ORS AND COUNTY INISTR OR Tobacco Prevention. Prolect r BY UT M382 (10188) THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA Adopted this Order on May 14, 19 9 6 by the following vote: AYES: SUPERVISORS ROGERS, BISHOP, DE SAULNIER, TORLAKSON and SMITH NOES: NONE ABSENT: NONE ABSTAIN: NONE RESOLUTION NO. 96/212 IN THE MATTER OF PROMOTING Whereas the voters of Contra Costa County approved Proposition 99 in 1988 and; Whereas Proposition 99 required 20% of the cigarette tax revenue be allocated to tobacco prevention and education efforts and; Whereas recent court actions have indicated that diverting Prop 99 funds from tobacco prevention and education to other programs is illegal and; Whereas Prop 99 funded efforts in Contra Costa County have made significant contributions in reducing adult smoking prevalence in our communities, creating a smoke free workplace and public places and; Whereas the tobacco industry continues to target young people with their advertising and promotion and; Whereas aggressive local efforts are required to stop the pediatric epidemic that is resulting in an increase among youth of cigarettes and smokeless tobacco; Now therefore be it resolved that the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors supports the full funding (20% of the Prop 99 revenue) for tobacco prevention and education efforts by the State Legislature as mandated by voters in this county and; Be it further resolved that the Board of Supervisors supports enacted SB 1971, a bill authorizing funding for tobacco education at the vote-mandated level and; Be it further resolved that the Board of Supervisors calls on other cities, community organizations, youth, parents, and all residents to lend their support to full funding for tobacco prevention and education efforts. I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN. ATTESTED May 14, 1996 TCHELOR, CLERK OF E BO OF SUPER O S NTY Al IN;71PUTY BY Contact Person: Wendel Brunner, M.D. (313-6712) cc: County Administrator Public Health Administration Health Services Director Tobacco Prevention Project -2- The budget reduction comes at a point when communities across the nation are waking up to the lethal effect tobacco industry advertising and promotion is having on young people. With technical assistance from the Tobacco Prevention Project and leadership from you, this county has played a pioneering role in creating clean indoor air and protecting residents from the impact of secondhand smoke. Full funding is necessary to continue those efforts. The tobacco industry is estimated to spend more than $13 million in Contra Costa County marketing and promoting its products. t 1