U.S. State and Local Issues

Spending on Tobacco Prevention: Montana

Last updated November 29, 2011

  FY2012 FY2011
State Rank 9 4
State Spending on Tobacco Prevention $4.7 million $8.4 million
% of CDC Recommended Spending
($13.9 million)		 33.8% 60.4%

Summary: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that Montana spend $13.9 million a year to have an effective, comprehensive tobacco prevention program. Montana currently allocates $4.7 million a year for tobacco prevention and cessation. This is 33.8% of the CDC’s recommendation and ranks Montana 9th among the states in the funding of tobacco prevention programs. Montana’s spending on tobacco prevention amounts to 3.9% of the estimated $119 million in tobacco-generated revenue the state collects each year from settlement payments and tobacco taxes.

Recent Developments: For FY2012, the Legislature and Governor Brian Schweitzer (D) allocated $4.7 million in state funds for the state’s tobacco prevention program. This is a significant decrease from the $8.4 million allocated in FY2011. This decrease means that Montana will be funding their tobacco prevention program below 50 percent of CDC-recommended spending for the first time since FY2005.

In addition, Montana is receiving $1.0 million in federal funds dedicated to tobacco prevention and control:

  • $961,793 from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in a 12-month grant for the period beginning April 2011 (from annual appropriations).

  • $77,939 from the Prevention and Public Health Fund in the new health care reform law.