CLEVELAND (WJW) – Issue 55, which asked Cuyahoga County voters to pay more on every pack of cigarettes to raise revenue to support local arts and culture, passed Tuesday night. 

Issue 55 was the only county-wide issue on the Nov. 5 general election ballot.

Now that it has passed, it will 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 new tax will 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.

Issue 55 is now 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.

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 the 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 to 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.

Issue 55 will now be in place for 10 years, immediately replacing the last 15-mill levy. 

“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.”