U.S. State and Local Issues

Spending on Tobacco Prevention: Connecticut

Last updated November 29, 2011

  FY2012 FY2011
State Rank 50 45
State Spending on Tobacco Prevention $0 $400,000
% of CDC Recommended Spending
($43.9 million)		 0.0% 0.9%

Summary: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that Connecticut spend $43.9 million a year to have an effective, comprehensive tobacco prevention program. Connecticut currently allocates $0.0 a year for tobacco prevention and cessation. This is 0.0% of the CDC's recommendation and ranks Connecticut 50th among the states in the funding of tobacco prevention programs. Connecticut's spending on tobacco prevention amounts to 0.0% of the estimated $509 million in tobacco-generated revenue the state collects each year from settlement payments and tobacco taxes.

Recent Developments: Connecticut's tobacco settlement payments are folded into the general fund and allocated through the biennial budget process. In FY2009, the legislature changed the rules governing expenditure of funds from the state's Tobacco and Health Trust Fund (THTF). The Trust Fund's Board is now able to spend up to 50 percent of the amount the legislature adds to the principal Fund balance, if any, in that year, in addition to any interest that the fund has accumulated. During the 2010 legislative session, the legislature redirected the $12 million in annual payments from the THTF to General Revenue for FY2011 and FY2012. In addition, the legislature transferred $5 million from the fund to General Revenue, leaving only $400,000 in the fund. In FY2011, that $400,000 was available to be appropriated for tobacco prevention and cessation programs. However, recommendations for the use of these funds were never made and as a result, there was no spending on tobacco prevention and cessation in FY2011. For FY2012, no state funds were appropriated for the tobacco prevention and cessation program; however, Governor Dan Malloy (D) included support for tobacco cessation treatment for Medicaid enrollees in the state budget.

Connecticut is spending minimal amounts on tobacco prevention despite the fact that the state is receiving more tobacco-generated revenue than ever before as a result of a 40-cent cigarette tax increase, which went into effect on July 1, 2011, bringing Connecticut's total cigarette tax to $3.40 a pack. In addition, the excise tax on snuff tobacco increased from 55 cents to one dollar per ounce and the tax rate on all other tobacco products was increased to 50 percent of the wholesale price.

Connecticut is receiving $1.8 million in federal funds dedicated to tobacco prevention and control:

  • $1.1 million from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in a 12-month grant for the period beginning April 2011 (from annual appropriations).

  • $96,478 from the Prevention and Public Health Fund in the new health care reform law. 

  • $615,539 from the Food and Drug Administration for enforcement of the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, including the provision regarding tobacco sales to minors.