What is Cuyahoga County Issue 55?

CLEVELAND. Voters in Cuyahoga County are being asked to help provide funding for the arts through Issue 55. That includes Playhouse Square, the nation’s second-largest theater district.

At Cleveland Public Theatre, telling stories is only the surface of what they do.

“We are creating a full season of productions that truly represent Cleveland’s many diverse communities,” said Raymond Bobgan, executive artistic director of Cleveland Public Theatre.

Through their non-profit organization, they offer a list of things including different productions, classes and experiences.

“Cleveland Public theater’s mission is to raise awareness and foster compassion through groundbreaking performances and life-changing educational programs,” said Raymond.

What helps them afford the job is the cigarette tax passed in 2006 and updated in 2015. It helps fund more than 300 arts and culture nonprofits, including CPT, in Cuyahoga County.

“We’re talking about more programs for kids in our community. We’re talking about jobs that are attracting investment from outside of Cleveland, outside of the region, and we’re talking about truly world-class artwork being created here,” Raymond said.

However, since 2006, cigarette sales have fallen by more than 50%, which has resulted in reduced income and funding for the arts. So R Strategy Group’s Izzy Stewart is trying to increase it by the 55 release

“Issue 55 is a replacement tax to replace our current cigarette tax with a new tax to provide increased long-term funding for nonprofit arts and cultural organizations,” Izzy said.

The current tax is 15 million (1.5 cents) per cigarette; if increased, it would be 35 million (3.5 cents) per cigarette sold in the county, a 70-cent tax on a standard pack of cigarettes.

“This funding touched every corner of Cuyahoga County, and Issue 55 will help improve learning outcomes. It will improve our quality of life. It will boost our local economy and build stronger neighborhoods,” Izzy said.

Some voters News 5 spoke with oppose any tax increase.

“I feel they should stay the same or go down, nobody wants to pay more money for cigarettes,” said one voter.

Others told us they didn’t see a problem with it.

Issue 55 does need a majority vote, and Izzy estimates it will bring in over $160 million in revenue over ten years. If it doesn’t happen, Raymond fears what the consequences will be.

“Like many other art organizations in our city, we are dynamic, we are sustainable. We’re going to make it, but what that means for our larger community is not for everybody,” Raymond said. “This means a reduction in the number of children we can serve. That means the number of local plays we can make will decrease, and that means a decrease in our workforce.”

But he says no matter what, they will find a way to continue their work.

The portion of the cigarette tax allocated to the CAC is separate from the “sin tax” on cigarettes and alcohol, which goes to fund facility improvements for the Cavaliers, Guardians and Browns.