Tobacco tax revenues are collected at the state level. Eighty percent of these funds are then allocated to the 58 counties according to annual birth rates. The remaining 20 percent of the money is allocated to First 5 California to support statewide programs, research, and media campaigns. However due to smoking prevention efforts, this tobacco tax is a declining source of revenue and therefore the Prop 10 allocation diminishes each year.
In Sacramento County the annual birth rate is approximately 20,000 and First 5 Sacramento's Prop 10 annual allocation is approximately $9 million. This funding provides innovative preventative child development and programs and services.
When California voters passed Proposition 10 in 1998, the California Children and Families Act, it imposed a tax on all tobacco products to fund the healthy development of children from prenatal to age five and their families. A portion of this tax revenue is allocated to each county based on the number of births recorded in that county. Proposition 10 tax revenue declines annually, consistently with the decline in the number of smokers.
The process of strategic planning involves continuous community engagement. First 5 reaches out to our parents and grassroots community organizations through focus groups and surveys. This also includes an open invitation to attend strategic planning sessions, monthly Commission meetings and public hearings facilitated by the Commission’s Advisory Committee to gather public input.