U.S. State and Local Issues

Spending on Tobacco Prevention: Kentucky

Last updated December 04, 2012

  FY2013 FY2012
State Rank 37 36
State Spending on Tobacco Prevention $2.1 million $2.2 million
% of CDC Recommended Spending
($57.2 million)		 3.7% 3.9%

Summary: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that Kentucky spend $57.2 million a year to have an effective, comprehensive tobacco prevention program.  Kentucky currently allocates $2.1 million a year for tobacco prevention and cessation.  This is 3.7% of the CDC’s recommendation and ranks Kentucky 37th among the states in the funding of tobacco prevention programs.  Kentucky’s spending on tobacco prevention amounts to 0.6% of the estimated $381 million in tobacco-generated revenue the state collects each year from settlement payments and tobacco taxes.

Background and Recent Developments: Kentucky will spend $2.1 million in state funds on tobacco prevention and cessation programs in FY2013. This is a small decrease from the $2.2 million allocated in FY2012.  Kentucky currently has the highest rate of adult smoking in the nation.

Kentucky’s tobacco settlement payments are governed by a 2000 law that directed the funds into three accounts: 50 percent goes to tobacco growers and rural development initiatives, 25 percent supports comprehensive early childhood development program, and 25 percent funds public health initiatives (of that 25 percent, only 10 percent goes to tobacco and substance abuse prevention programs). Oversight boards were created to oversee the resulting programs.

In addition to its tobacco settlement payments, Kentucky receives tobacco-generated revenue from taxes on cigarettes and other tobacco products. However, none of this revenue is used to fund tobacco prevention or cessation programs.

In addition, Kentucky is receiving $1.9 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 2012 (from annual appropriations).

  • $431,176 from the Prevention and Public Health Fund in the new health care reform law for the period beginning August 1, 2012. 

  • $429,215 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.