“Cuyahoga County arts advocates are leading an effort to amend the pending state budget bill to expand an existing cigarette tax that helps fund local arts programs. The advocates want to change the tax from a flat 30 cents per pack of cigarettes sold to an 8% tax on wholesale sales volumes. They also want to broaden the tax so it applies to sales on all tobacco products. Backers of the request estimate the change would effectively double the money the tax generates, which they said would make up for dwindling revenues tied to declining smoking rates. If state lawmakers agree to allow the change, it then would need approval from local voters to take effect. The arts organizations also want legislators to change state law authorizing Ohio’s 14 other most populous counties to seek approval for similar taxes. Under current law, only Cuyahoga County residents can enact such a tax.”
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Cuyahoga County arts advocates want permission to expand cigarette tax through state budget amendment
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