HomeMy WebLinkAboutRESO 8654RESOLUTION NO. 8654
RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALO
ALTO TO SUPPORT PROPOSITION 86 -THE TOBACCO TAX
ACT OF 2006
WHEREAS, the Tobacco Tax Act of 2006 is a state
initiative which, if passed by voters in November 2006, would
raise the state's tobacco tax by an additional $2.60 per packi
and
WHEREAS, according to the California Department of
Health Services, the tax increase alone would prevent 700,000
children currently under 17 years of age from becoming smokers
in adulthood, high school and middle school student smoking
prevalence would decline by 42.8%, and more than half a million
smokers in California would quit smokingi and
WHEREAS, the Tobacco Tax Act would produce more than $2
billion in annual revenue to fund children's health insurance,
emergency room care, nursing education, disease prevention,
medical research and programs that will reduce smoking,
especially among childreni and
WHEREAS, 4.5 million Californians smoke and nearly
75,000 a year try their first cigarette, and these smokers put a
significant burden on the economy and the hospitals and
healthcare systems in Santa Clara County in direct and indirect
medical costs, worker absenteeism, and lost productivitYi and
WHEREAS, the Tobacco Tax Act would significantly reduce
the burden on state and local healthcare agencies of treating
the uninsured by providing basic health insurance coverage
including primary care and hospitalization to California's
800,000 uninsured children by expanding eligibility and
simplifying enrollment in the state's Medi-Cal and Healthy
Families public health insurance programs for childreni and
WHEREAS, the Tobacco Tax Act would provide funding for
outreach to enroll currently eligible children into the Medi-Cal
and the Healthy Families programs, generating additional
revenues to local communities including $1,112 annually in state
and federal funding for each child enrolled or a total of $390
million in additional annual revenue if all currently eligible
children are enrolledi and
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WHEREAS, the Tobacco Tax Act is expected to generate
significant additional savings for the 17 counties operating
their own children's health coverage initiatives because these
children would now be eligible for state programs funded by
tobacco tax revenueSj and
WHEREAS, the Tobacco Tax Act would provide more than 700
community-based clinics throughout the state, including 26
clinic sites in Santa Clara County alone, with much needed
dollars to continue to provide primary health care services to
uninsured and underinsured children and· adults, thereby
alleviating the overuse of local emergency roomSj and
WHEREAS, the Tobacco Tax Act is expected to reduce state
and local government healthcare costs over time through reduced
tobacco use and tobacco related disease as well as through
expanded state health programs; and
WHEREAS, the Tobacco Tax Act will provide needed funds for
emergency rooms and critical care services, and reducing smoking
and funding emergency care will help keep community emergency
rooms openi and,
WHEREAS, the Tobacco Tax Act will increase sales tax
revenues to local governments by tens of millions of dollars
annually;
NOW, THEREFORE, the Council of the City of Palo Alto does
RESOLVE as follows:
SECTION 1. The City Council hereby expresses its strong
support for Proposition 86, the Tobacco Tax Act of 2006, and
urges local voters to support the measure.
SECTION 2. The City Council and staff are authorized to
provide impartial informational. materials on the initiative as
may be lawfully provided by the City's representatives. No
public funds shall be used to campaign for or against the
initiative.
SECTION 3. The residents of the City of Palo Al to are
encouraged to become well informed on the initiative and its
possible impacts.
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SECTION 4. The Council finds that this is not a project
under the California Environmental Quality Act and, therefore,
no environmental impact assessment is necessary.
INTRODUCED AND PASSED: October 10, 2006
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTENTIONS:
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BARTON, CORDELL, DREKMEIER, KEIN, KISHIMOTO,
MORTON
MOSSAR
BEECHAM, KLEINBERG
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