The steady decline of tobacco sales tax revenue in California, with fewer people smoking, has also impacted funding for the First 5 program, which supports children’s education and activities for kids up to 5 years old. At First 5 Nevada County, executive director Lindsay Dunckel says they’ve lost 3 to 5-percent in revenue each year since they began operations in 1999. But she says First 5 California has recently provided a boost…

click to listen to Lindsay Dunckel

Dunckel says that’s 650-thousand a year, which has provided greater support in finding grant money…

click to listen to Lindsay Dunckel

Meanwhile, Dunckel says First 5 Nevada County would get more longterm, stable funding, if a proposal for the November ballot to increase the cigarette tax from 87-cents to 2-dollars a pack is passed by voters. She says e-cigarettes could also be taxed for the first time, providing a new revenue source. California’s current tax is lower than 33 other states.