SMOKE DEAL MEANS WINDFALL; COUNTY WOULD REAP NEARLY $234 MILLION IN PACT.

Byline: David Greenberg Daily News Staff Writer

A landmark $24 billion settlement package between the state and the U.S. tobacco industry would bring Ventura County nearly $234 million for education, prevention and treatment as well as unrelated programs.

The county would receive more than $9 million annually for the next quarter-century, in addition to reaping other benefits from the settlement, which includes a ban on advertising and marketing tactics that target youths.

``The truth has come out,'' said Noel Klebaum, the county's litigation supervisor. ``(The settlement) shows the tobacco companies admit they have been lying and are now accepting some responsibility for the health effects of smoking. We hope this means they will not be able to recruit as many teen-age smokers. It is hoped that adult smoking will also decline.''

Early next year, the county should receive the first of what ultimately will total $232,672,000 in payments, officials said.

Although there are no legal constraints on how the money may be spent, county public health Director Paul Lorenz said he will ask the Board of Supervisors to spend some of it on anti-tobacco programs.

Such programs would include the ``tobacco bus of horrors,'' which transports speakers to schools countywide for education seminars; the Great American Smokeout, an annual campaign that encourages smokers to quit; and staff assistance in helping cities develop smoke-free bar ordinances.

``We would like to see our prevention programs continue,'' Lorenz said. ``The board has always supported our role in educating the community around the effects of tobacco use.''

Bert Bigler, chief deputy administrative officer, said reimbursing the Ventura County Medical Center for expenses in treating tobacco-related illnesses also will be on a list of recommendations presented to supervisors.

``Certainly, because it's tobacco-related, the medical center would be on the consideration list,'' he said.

Neither Pierre Durand, director of the county Health Care Agency, which oversees the hospital, or supervisors were available for comment.

California Attorney General Dan Lungren said he expects this week to approve the state's portion of the settlement, part of a $206 billion package for as many as 46 states.