A proposal to ban smoking in public workplaces was unanimously supported last week by the Benzie-Leelanau Board of Health.

The board voted 6-0 to recommend approval of the proposed ordinance, which was the subject of a public hearing May 14. Six people attended the public hearing at the Binsfeld Center in Lake Leelanau and expressed support for the measure, department director Bill Crawford said.

Based on similar legislation in place in Marquette County and the City of Traverse City, the proposed ordinance prohibits smoking in all enclosed private and public worksties and public places. It would also include restrooms, lobbies, reception areas, hallways and any other common use area.

The only sites where smoking would not be regulated under the measure would be food service establishments, private residences except when used for child care, health care or adult day care facilities, tobacco specialty stores, and casinos owned and operated by Native American tribes.

Enforcement would be by the health department officer or a designee. Upon the first complaint, a subject would receive a warning. A second complaint (within one year), is punishable by a fine of not more than $100; second offense, $300; third offense, $500.

The ordinance, if adopted by both the boards of commissioners in both Benzie and Leelanau counties, would become effective 90 days after final approval, Crawford said.

In other business during the regularly scheduled meeting, board members discussed the most recent announcement from Lansing that the governor and Legislature announcing that local public health funding will be cut.

“We expect to lose $10,000 from money the state pays local departments for carrying out eight programs,” Crawford said, adding that areas include vision and hearing screening, food service inspections, communicable diseases, and sexually-transmitted diseases. “The state is supposed to provide 50 percent of this cost, but that isn’t what we really get … There’s been no increase in this amount for the past seven or eight years and it’s more like 30/70, with the local departments paying out 70 percent of the costs.”

Crawford said his department will monitor the situation before acting to offset the reduced funding.

“By the end of September, we should be able to make decisions with regard to staffing,” he said. “The state money is just not there. There’s no revenue.”