Cleveland, OH – On June 23, 2015 the Cuyahoga County Council certified a proposed extension of the levy on cigarettes for the benefit of Cuyahoga Arts and Culture. The proposed tax extension will appear on the November 3, 2015 ballot as Issue 8.

Passage of Issue 8 would renew the existing excise tax on cigarettes at a rate of $0.015 per cigarette (or $0.30 per pack) for 10 additional years. The original levy was approved by the voters of Cuyahoga County in 2006.

Cuyahoga Arts and Culture is established pursuant to Ohio Revised Code, and is empowered to use levy proceeds to make grants to support the operating or capital expenses of arts or cultural organizations located within the County. The existing levy has generated between $15-$20 million annually, totaling over $125 million since 2007. Most of these dollars have been awarded as grants to provide general operating and project support to over 300 eligible arts and cultural organizations within Cuyahoga County.

The County Council Resolution certifying the proposed extension to the Board of Elections can be found here. Further information about Cuyahoga Arts and Culture can be found here.