What is Issue 55 on the ballot in Cuyahoga County?

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CLEVELAND (WJW) — This election, Cuyahoga County voters are being asked to pay more on every pack of cigarettes, revenue from which would support local arts and culture.

Issue 55, the only countywide issue on the Nov. 5 general election ballot, would more than double the excise tax paid on each cigarette bought in the county, from 15 mills, or 1.5 cents, to 35 mills, or 3.5 cents.

On a standard pack containing 20 cigarettes, the tax currently adds 30 cents per pack. The proposed tax would add 70 cents per pack. That’s on top of Cuyahoga County’s combined state and local tax rate of 8%, the county’s so-called “sin tax” of 34.5 cents per pack and the state’s tobacco excise tax of $1.60 per pack.

The measure needs a simple majority vote to pass in the Nov. 5 election.

If approved, it’s expected to generate $160 million over the next 10 years for Cuyahoga County Arts & Culture, a state agency that uses the revenue to fund “millions of arts and cultural experiences” each year across Cuyahoga County and is “the region’s largest funder of arts and culture,” reads its website.

Here’s how the issue appears on the ballot:

For the purpose of making grants to support operating or capital expenses of arts or cultural organizations in Cuyahoga County, to defray the costs of acquiring, constructing, equipping, furnishing, improving, enlarging, renovating, remodeling, or maintaining an artistic or cultural facility, and to meet operating expenses of Cuyahoga Arts and Culture, shall an excise tax be levied throughout Cuyahoga County for the benefit of Cuyahoga Arts and Culture on the sale of cigarettes at wholesale at the rate of 35 mills per cigarette, which amounts to 3.5 cents per cigarette, for 10 years?

An existing tax of 15 mills per cigarette, which amounts to 1.5 cents per cigarette, having two years remaining, will be terminated and replaced upon the passage of this tax.

Cuyahoga County Arts & Culture intends to invest millions of tax dollars each year into “hundreds of organizations who bring art and culture to life in our communities” and use it to support “tens of thousands of programs that enhance education, enrich quality of life and support the local economy,” reads its website.

That includes things like art education in schools and classes, workshops, field trips, internships and apprenticeships for kids, according to a fact sheet. Groups that have received excise tax revenue funding have also supported more than 10,200 jobs and generated $478 million in expenditures.

Since the tax was established, Cuyahoga County Arts & Culture has made more than 4,000 grants totaling $247 million nearly 500 arts nonprofits, including $11.5 million to nearly 300 nonprofits in 2024.

“CAC revenues have declined by more than 50% since 2006. While anticipated — as fewer cigarettes are sold each year — revenues continue to decline precipitously, reducing the funds available for grants to the nearly 300 nonprofits CAC funds each year,” reads the website.

The tax has had strong support at the ballot box. It was first approved by 56% of voters in 2006, and a whopping 75% of voters reapproved it in 2015, according to Ohio Secretary of State records.

The proposed tax would be in place for 10 years. There are still two years left on the last 15-mill levy. If Issue 55 is approved, the new tax would immediately replace it.

“Public funding for arts and culture is a difference-maker in our community,” reads the website. “With expanded funding, CAC will continue its mission to inspire and strengthen the community by investing in arts and culture.”

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Justin Dennis

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