The Buncombe County Tobacco Action Study Committee (TASC) was named by the HHS Board to lead a community engagement and evaluation process for Buncombe County’s tobacco policy. In the County’s original tobacco use ordinance, combustible tobacco/cigarettes were specifically prohibited, and in 2022 the County’s tobacco policy was updated to include prohibition of e-cigarettes and vaping on County properties. The primary concerns that the TASC Community Engagement group identified for evaluation were related to the equitable enforcement of the policy and defining equitable consequences for ordinance violation.

In 2022, TASC Community Engagement partnered with Buncombe HHS CAPE Team to broadly promote community awareness about the latest ordinance change, including installment of new signage in County parks. At the end of 2022, a community input survey was developed with TASC Community Engagement and HHS CAPE Team for online public engagement to determine: equitable tobacco ordinance enforcement, assess cultural humbleness and accessibility of local tobacco cessation resources, and to identify ongoing community needs and concerns related to tobacco use in Buncombe County. The TASC public input survey will go live in early 2023 for community engagement, and a similar version of the survey will run internally for all Buncombe County employees to access. Once both survey projects are finished the TASC Community Engagement and HHS CAPE Teams will produce formal equity recommendations for the HHS Board to consider for future Buncombe County tobacco ordinance/policy updates.   

The TASC community engagement survey was launched in 2023 to gather public input on smoking and tobacco restrictions, enforcement, and access to cessation supports. As data reflects, there was a wide level of engagement from community which provided feedback around the current tobacco ordinance. Compiled data with qualitative response themes were shared with the Health and Human Services board, as well as senior leadership. Data and feedack collected from this survey will continue to influence and support any future changes to the current tobacco use ordinace for Buncombe County.