Cuyahoga County Passes Issue 55, the Cigarette Tax to Continue Funding the Arts
Date: November 5, 2024
Source: Cleveland SCENE
Abstract:
Residents on Tuesday passed Issue 55 by a wide margin, with about 72% supporting a tax hike on cigarettes and tobacco products to continue to fund the arts through Cuyahoga Arts & Culture.
The independent government entity will now receive more money from the revised tax—three-and-a-half cents more per smoke, up from its current tax rate of one-and-a-half cents — to turn over to artists and arts groups through grants. With smoking rates decreasing, annual funding had dipped from $20 million to $10 million over the past two decades.
Arts and culture funding extended as voters back Issue 55
Date: November 5, 2024
Source: Signal Cleveland
Abstract:
Cuyahoga County voters approved a cigarette tax that will continue to provide arts and culture funding in the county.
Here are the unofficial results as of midnight with 342,091 (71.52%) votes for the measure and 136,222 (28.48%) votes against.
Cuyahoga County cigarette tax proponents claim victory as strong vote tally continues
Date: November 5, 2024
Source: Cleveland.com
Abstract:
CLEVELAND, Ohio – Proponents of raising Cuyahoga County’s cigarette tax to pay for the arts are claiming victory as the ballot measure continues to garner strong support into Tuesday night.
With 478,313 votes counted, 342,091 votes (71.5%) have been cast for Issue 55 and 136,222 votes (28.5%) have been cast against it. So far, 902 of 967 precincts have reported. Absentee ballots have also been counted.
Cuyahoga County Issue 55 passes, increasing the cigarette tax for the arts
Date: November 6, 2024
Source: ideastream
Abstract:
About 70% of voters approved increasing the cigarette tax funding the arts in Cuyahoga County Tuesday.
A 30-cent-per-pack tax was first passed by voters in 2006, but revenues have dropped by about half as fewer people light up. Issue 55 more than doubles the tax per pack to 70 cents. The funds are distributed by Cuyahoga Arts & Culture. Ideastream Public Media receives a portion of its funding from CAC and also contributed to the Issue 55 campaign.
Assembly for the Arts Awards $170,000 to 17 Artists through the 2024 Creative Impact Fund
Date: October 23, 2024
Source: FreshWater Cleveland
Abstract:
Assembly for the Arts, the nonprofit focused on increasing equity in the region’s arts and culture community, announced in September that it has awarded $170,000 to 17 artists through the 2024 Creative Impact Fund. Each recipient will receive $10,000 in unrestricted funding to support their creative practices.
Now in its second year, the Creative Impact Fund is one of the largest unrestricted grant funds available to Cuyahoga County artists. It provides critical support to artists in maintaining their creative missions and connecting more deeply with the Cleveland community.
Individual Artists: Yes, Yes, and Yes
Source: CAN Journal, Michael Gill
Date: August 6, 2025
Abstract:
The phrase “preaching to the choir” is made for moments like this: CAN Journal’s endorsement in favor of Cuyahoga County’s cigarette tax for the arts might seem completely unnecessary. Our readers are interested in art and artists, and the organizations that support them, and Collective Arts Network (CAN) has benefitted directly from the tax through general operating support for the last half-dozen years. Our endorsement is no surprise. Nonetheless, the last year’s discussion about Cuyahoga Arts and Culture (CAC) gives us a good reason to weigh in.
'It's gonna create an art renaissance': CLE artists awarded $3M to create public art projects in neighborhoods
Source: News5
Date: July 18, 2024
Abstract:
The City of Cleveland says the grant program will support artists who partner with institutional partners to create art that reflects the diversity and richness of the city.
CLEVELAND — Wednesday, the City of Cleveland announced funding for seven public art and place-making projects to bolster artists and strengthen neighborhoods. At that time, Rhonda K. Brown, the city’s senior strategist for arts, culture and the creative economy, said, “it’s an opportunity for artist to partner with corporations, schools and any public/private entity.”
The true value of Cuyahoga Arts and Culture tax - a thriving community: Geralyn M. Presti and Chinenye Nkemere
Source: Cleveland.com, Opinion
Date: July 8, 2024
Abstract: CLEVELAND — Millions of people from across the socioeconomic spectrum benefit annually from Cuyahoga County’s robust, publicly funded arts and culture nonprofit scene. Our arts and culture sector creates thousands of family-supporting jobs, pumps hundreds of millions into our economy, drives tourism, offers thousands of opportunities, experiences, and safe alternatives for schoolchildren, enhances neighborhoods, and is a source of pride for our region.
Nearly 500 organizations throughout the county have received funding from our voter-supported 1.5-cent tax on cigarettes since its inception. Those organizations provide many programs for our diverse population, tens of thousands of Cleveland area schoolchildren, and hundreds of thousands of residents at no cost.
Cuyahoga County cigarette tax increase heading to November ballot
Source: Kaitlin Durbin, cleveland.com
Published: June 4, 2024
CLEVELAND, Ohio — To support the arts, Cuyahoga County Council on Tuesday voted to send a proposed increase to the county’s cigarette tax to the November ballot.
It will be up to voters to decide whether to replace the 1.5-cent-per-cigarette rate first approved in 2006 with a new 3.5-cent-per-cigarette tax. The change would increase taxes on each pack of cigarettes from 30 cents to 70 cents.
Council passed the resolution unanimously. None of the members commented.
Cuyahoga County Arts and Culture board votes to ask County Council to put cigarette tax increase on November ballot
Source: Cleveland.com, Steven Litt
Date: April 29, 2024
Abstract:
CLEVELAND, Ohio — Board members of Cuyahoga Arts and Culture, the government agency that distributes cigarette tax money to the arts, voted unanimously on Monday to ask Cuyahoga County Council to approve a November ballot item that would enable county voters to increase the tax from 1.5 cents to 3.5 cents per cigarette.
The tax could raise an estimated $160 million between 2026 and 2035 and bolster revenues that have declined sharply since voters first approved the tax in 2006. In its first year of funding, the 10-year tax produced roughly $20 million for arts and cultural organizations across the county.