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3 <br />ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS <br />RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF AN INCREASE IN NORTH <br />CAROLINA'S TAX ON CIGARETTES <br />March 2003 <br />WHEREAS, the Orange County Board of Commissioners joins the Orange County Board of <br />Health in carrying out the responsibility of protecting and promoting the health of the people of <br />Orange County; and <br />WHEREAS, a goal of Healthy People 2010 is to "reduce illness, disability, and death related to <br />tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke "; and <br />WHEREAS, death rates from heart disease and cancer, the leading causes of death in North <br />Carolina and Orange County are partially attributable to smoking and tobacco use; and <br />WHEREAS, North Carolina's cigarette tax is currently $.05, the 3rd lowest in the nation; and <br />WHEREAS, the use of tobacco products costs the State $4.75 billion in medical costs and lost <br />productivity annually; and <br />WHEREAS, each year 24,090 children in North Carolina start smoking each year (66 a day); and <br />WHEREAS, the best way to prevent and reduce tobacco use by children is to substantially <br />increase the cost of cigarettes; and <br />WHEREAS, such a tax increase would result in a 16.1 % decrease in youth smoking rates, <br />preventing 105,750 North Carolina children from starting to smoke and saving 33,750 premature <br />smoking- related death; and <br />WHEREAS, North Carolina expects to suffer approximately a $2 billion deficit in fiscal year <br />2003, the third year of significant deficits; and <br />WHEREAS, these deficits have caused cuts to important programs affecting the health and <br />wellness of the citizens and more reductions are threatened; and <br />WHEREAS, North Carolina targets almost no state funds towards preventing tobacco use; and <br />WHEREAS, such a tax increase would generate $573 million in new revenue; <br />NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Orange County Board of County <br />Commissioners supports an increase in the cigarette tax in North Carolina of at least $.75 per <br />pack to be used for health programs and for reducing and preventing tobacco use. <br />This the 5th day of March, 2003. <br />Margaret Brown, Chair <br />Orange County Board of Commissioners <br />