U.S. State and Local Issues

Spending on Tobacco Prevention: Georgia

Last updated November 29, 2011

  FY2012 FY2011
State Rank 40 43
State Spending on Tobacco Prevention $2 million $2 million
% of CDC Recommended Spending
($116.5 million)		 1.7% 1.8%

Summary: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that Georgia spend $116.5 million a year to have an effective, comprehensive tobacco prevention program. Georgia currently allocates $2.0 million a year for tobacco prevention and cessation. This is 1.7% of the CDC's recommendation and ranks Georgia 40th among the states in the funding of tobacco prevention programs. Georgia's spending on tobacco prevention amounts to 0.5% of the estimated $370 million in tobacco-generated revenue the state collects each year from settlement payments and tobacco taxes.

Recent Developments: Georgia places one-third of its tobacco settlement funds in the One-Georgia Fund, established in 2000 to support economic development initiatives, and folds the remaining two-thirds of its payments into the state's general budget process. Settlement funds placed in the Fund have been subdivided into two funds. The EDGE (Economic Development, Growth and Expansion) Fund helps Georgia communities compete with localities in other states to attract business. The Equity Fund has been used for a variety of projects, including expanding water and sewer systems to support industrial parks, improving tourism and recreation in the state, shrimp and fish aquaculture, and assistance to technical colleges.

Total state spending on tobacco prevention and cessation for FY2012 will be $2 million, about what was spent in FY2011 and FY2010. Half of those funds will be allocated to the state Quitline and the remaining $1 million will be divided among 18 health districts.

In addition, Georgia is receiving $1.6 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).

  • $486,855 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.