HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010-03-08 10-088 RESOLVECOUNCIL ACTION
Item No.
Date: March 8, 2010
Item/Subject: RESOLVE, Endorsing the Recommendation of the Public Health Advisory Board
Urging the Maine State Legislature to Levy a $1 per Package Tax Upon all Tobacco Products
Sold in Maine and Requesting that All Tobacco Products be Taxed Equally
Responsible Department: Health and Community Services
Commentary: The Public Health Advisory Board has asked the City Council to consider a Resolve
concerning tobacco use and taxes. There is proven connection between increased tobacco tax and decreased
smoking rates, particularly among youth. In a year when youth smoking rates have increased for the first
time in ten years, the Board believes it is time to return to the kind of effective public policy practices that
have succeeded in the past to lower the rate of tobacco use. By increasing the tax on tobacco products and
dedicating these additional revenues directly to health costs associated with their use, the Board believes the
proposal put forward will help meet the immediate need for additional revenue while ultimately serving the
long-term goal of reducing tobacco use. Furthermore, the Board believes the proposed tax will decrease the
$600 million dollars per year cost in healthcare associated with tobacco use. Additionally, there are tobacco
products that are taxed less making the lower cost inviting to new smokers, particularly young people.
Finally, the Board believes that by adopting policies that promote good health and by supporting the State's
prevention efforts through the Fund for Healthy Maine it will help to lower healthcare costs and help ensure
an improved quality of life for everyone.
Department Head
Manager's Comments:
City Manager
Associated Information: Resolve
Budget Approval:
Finance Director
Legal Approval:
ity Solicitor
Introduced for
Passage
_ First Reading Page 1 of 1
_ Referral
(, �
Assigned to Councilor — Gratwick March 8, 2010
CITY OF BANGOR
(TITLE.) RESOLVE, Endorsing the Recommendation of the Public Health Advisory Board
Urging the Maine State Legislature to Levy a $1 per Package Tax Upon all Tobacco Products
Sold in Maine and Requesting that All Tobacco Products be Taxed Equally
BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BANGOR:
WHEREAS, an important role of the Public Health Advisory Board is to take positions and
support action to improve the overall health and wellbeing of residents in
communities it represents; and
WHEREAS, the Board has recently taken a position to support an initiative that will help
reduce tobacco use and the deadly diseases that it causes; and
WHEREAS, by increasing the tax on tobacco products and dedicating those additional
resources directly to health care costs associated with the use of tobacco; and
WHEREAS, the Board believes that such a proposal serves to address the long-term goal
of reducing tobacco use through deterrence and also help to meet the need to
raise additional revenue to address healthcare costs; and
WHEREAS, there is a connection between an increase in the tobacco tax and tobacco use,
particularly among youth and young adults who have less discretionary
income; and
WHEREAS, for the first time in ten years, youth smoking rates have increased and the
State continues to spend more than $600 Million each year on healthcare
costs associated with tobacco use.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY OF BANGOR, THAT: the City Council
supports the recommendations of the Public Health Advisory Board urging the State Legislature
to levy an additional $1.00 per package tax on all tobacco products sold in Maine and requesting
that all tobacco products be taxed equally; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, THAT: copies of this Resolve shall be provided to the Bangor
Area Delegation expressing the position of the City Council.
IN CITY COUNCIL
March 8, 2010
Motion Made and Seconded for Passage
Reverend Bob Carlson urged council
support
Motion Doubted
Vote: 3-6
Councilors Voting Yes: Gratwick,
Stone & Wheeler
Councilors Voting No: Blanchette,
Brownson, Hawes, Nealley, Palmer
and Weston
Failed Passage
DEPUTY CITY CLERK
# 10-088
(TITLE�)F.ndnr.qing thetic n_ dation of
the Public Health Advisory Board Urging
the Maine State Legislature to Levy a 1
Per Package Tag upon all Tobacco Products
Sold in Maine and Requesting that all
Tobacco Products b d /E/ually
S
Assi ned to Councilor A- G`
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