Agenda - 06-06-1994 - V-A - Laserfiche WebLink

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z ORANGE COUNTY RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF FAIR TREATMENT OF TOBACCO FARMERS WHEREAS, efforts are now taking place in Washington, D.C. to increase the federal tax on tobacco from 24 cents per package of cigarettes to as much as $1.49 per package; and WHEREAS, the president has proposed a health care reform plan that would be partially financed through an increase of 75 cents per pack of cigarettes; and WHEREAS, no other commodity in our nation is taxed at this rate; and WHEREAS, a 75 cent increase in the tax is expected to cause the loss of over 273, 000 jobs and $8 billion in payroll nationwide; and WHEREAS, 31,242 of these jobs and $689.6 million in payroll would be lost in North Carolina alone; and WHEREAS, Orange County, with approximately 255 tobacco farmers, 1,730 acres of tobacco grown annually and more than 3 . 5 million pounds of tobacco produced last year, has a significant economic and human stake in tobacco production; and WHEREAS, approximately six million dollars in income enters the Orange County economy from tobacco grown in this County; and WHEREAS, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners recognizes the importance of tobacco farming in the rural economy of Orange County; and WHEREAS, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners recognizes the plight of Tobacco Farmers in Orange County who must face declining support for their products and pressures related to switching to alternative crops. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT: The Orange County Board of Commissioners supports the tobacco farmers, and all agribusinesses associated with tobacco in orange County. The Orange County Board of Commissioners urges our congressmen David Price and Melvin Watt, as well as our Senators, Lauch Faircloth and Jesse Helms to reject the 75 cent per pack increase in the federal excise tax on tobacco and to strongly encourage the financing of health care reform more equitably, such as additional taxes on alcohol, firearms, etc.