HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 06-06-1994 - V-A 1
Y
ORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Action Agenda
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Item No. -
Meeting Date: JUNE 6, 1994
SUBJECT: RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF FAIR TREATMENT OF TOBACCO FARMERS
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DEPARTMENT: COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PUBLIC HEARING YES: NO: X
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ATTACHMENT(S) : YES - RESOLUTION INFORMATION CONTACT: MOSES CAREY,JR.
STEPHEN HALKIOTIS
TELEPHONE NUMBER -
Hillsborough - 732-8181
Chapel Hill - 968-5401
Durham - 688-7331
Mebane - 227-2031
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PURPOSE: To consider a resolution in support of fair treatment of tobacco
farmers.
BACKGROUND: Efforts are being made in Washington to increase the federal
tax on tobacco from 24 cents to as much as $1.49 per package. This
resolution recognizes the plight of tobacco farmers in Orange County who
must face declining support for their products and supports continued
funding for the Tobacco Research Station in Granville County, North
Carolina for its work on alternative uses of tobacco and alternative crops
for tobacco farmers.
RECOMMENDATION(S) : Approve the resolution and authorize the Chair to sign
on behalf of the Board and forward copies to State and Federal
legislators.
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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.
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Orange County Resolution in Support
of Fair Treatment of Tobacco Farmers
Page 2
We urge our elected officials to adopt incentives and transitional
support to encourage and assist family tobacco farmers to adopt
alternative crops suitable for their area.
We further urge our elected officials to support continued funding
for the Tobacco Research Station in Granville County, North
Carolina for its work on alternative uses of tobacco and
alternative crops for tobacco farmers.
We further urge our elected officials to educate other members in
the bodies to which they were elected about the economic
ramifications of such an increase in the tobacco tax.
Be it further resolved that the Orange County Board of
Commissioners encourages tobacco farmers to diversify their farming
efforts as soon as possible and that the Orange County Board of
Commissioners stands ready to assist in this effort.
This the 6th day of June, 1994.
Moses Carey, Jr. , Chair
Board of Commissioners