RESOLUTION NO. _____________

BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, COUNTY OF SAN MATEO, STATE OF CALIFORNIA

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RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF THE COUNTY OF

SAN MATEO SUPPORTING PRESERVATION OF THE CURRENT PROPOSITION 10 FUNDING FOR FIRST 5 SAN MATEO COUNTY PROGRAMS AND OPPOSING ANY EFFORTS TO DIVERT OR REPROGRAM PROPOSITION 10 FUNDS

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RESOLVED, by the Board of Supervisors of the County of San Mateo, State of California, that

WHEREAS, the first 5 years of life establish a foundation for the future success of Children and their ability to reach their full potential, and it is our responsibility to provide them with the best possible start; and

WHEREAS, First 5 California and 58 county First 5 commissions were established in 1998 by the voters of California through Proposition 10 and funded by a tax on tobacco to provide for the development of programs that focus on children’s early development in the areas of health, education and safety; and

WHEREAS, First 5 San Mateo County has been a valuable community partner, working with the County of San Mateo and community partners to support efforts to promote the health and well-being of children and to strengthen families; and

WHEREAS, First 5 San Mateo County is well-managed, and a valuable and effective resource in our community, which seeks to prevent problems that lead to the need for more expensive intervention later; and

WHEREAS, First 5 San Mateo County has been a highly responsible and effective steward of Proposition 10 funding by making strategic and targeted investments across our local early childhood system; and

WHEREAS, the unique and diverse nature of San Mateo County demands local control and local solutions to issues that affect young children and their families, and it is critical that First 5 San Mateo County retain its ability to receive and distribute San Mateo County’s fair share of revenue generated by the tobacco tax and carry out the will of the people of California; and

WHEREAS, the possible diversion or reprogramming of First 5 funding to address the State’s budget crisis will result in a tremendous loss for San Mateo County’s children and families and the local programs and services that support them;

NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY DETERMINED AND ORDERED that the County of San Mateo Board of Supervisors supports the preservation of Proposition 10 funding to be used for First 5 San Mateo County programs as intended by the voters of the State of California, and that the County of San Mateo Board of Supervisors opposes any efforts to divert or reprogram Proposition 10 funds to resolve the budget crisis of the State of California.

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