Bell County received $315,618 in tobacco funds this year. The county places its funds directly into the budget and, unlike areas in other states, does not track specifically how it is spent. Bell County auditor Donna Eakin said the tobacco money is allocated according to a formula based on how much an entity spends on such things as inmate and unreimbursed public health care.

Last year Bell County spent $7.09 million on unreimbursed health care expenses, according to county documents.