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Author: Cleveland.com
Cleveland.com
Published: Jul. 07, 2024, 5:39 a.m.
CLEVELAND -- Millions of people from across the socioeconomic spectrum benefit annually from Cuyahoga County’s robust, publicly funded arts and culture nonprofit scene. Our arts and culture sector creates thousands of family-supporting jobs, pumps hundreds of millions into our economy, drives tourism, offers thousands of opportunities, experiences, and safe alternatives for schoolchildren, enhances neighborhoods, and is a source of pride for our region.
Nearly 500 organizations throughout the county have received funding from our voter- supported 1.5-cent tax on cigarettes since its inception. Those organizations provide many programs for our diverse population, tens of thousands of Cleveland area schoolchildren, and hundreds of thousands of residents at no cost. However, we are at a critical juncture. Funding generated by this small tax has declined nearly 50% since it was initially passed by voters in 2006. After it was overwhelmingly renewed in 2015, stakeholders continuously worked to secure additional funding sources.
Despite these efforts, finding a feasible alternative that could secure state legislative approval, withstand well-funded opposition, and receive voter support left us with one viable option.
Extensive financial assessments and political analyses — not just public opinion research on Cuyahoga County voters — have been conducted to assess options to fund our arts-and-culture assets. These studies explored a range of alternatives and concluded a replacement tax of 3.5 cents per cigarette to be the only way forward at this time. For arts and culture here, it is imperative that this tax replacement be approved by voters in this fall’s election. Sales taxes based on product sales are regressive, whether it’s the gas tax, beer and alcohol tax, eating at a restaurant, or the broad sales tax placed on the tens of thousands of items sold every day. Other taxes like local or state income taxes and property taxes can also be classified as regressive. To single out the tax that funds nonprofit arts and culture organizations without weighing its impact ignores the overall public good that is provided.
The benefits of this tax are vast and tangible. With a $533 million contribution annually to our economy, the arts and culture sector plays a crucial role in enhancing our community’s quality of life. Through Cuyahoga Arts and Culture (CAC), those publicly funded organizations provide millions of cultural experiences annually. More than half are free and accessible to all residents in the county. These programs are transformative experiences that educate, inspire, and bind our community. Education opportunities provided by the arts are a vital part of this initiative. In-school and out-of-school programs funded by this tax have helped improve educational outcomes, offering safe and enriching alternatives that foster young people’s creative and cognitive abilities. This modest cigarette tax significantly enhances our community by supporting essential educational and creative programs.
An outdated belief is that arts and culture are only for a select few, but the reality is they are for everyone. The data prove it. Residents from every ZIP code in the county take part in CAC-funded programming. From Abrepaso Flamenco to Zydeco Press, the Beck Center for the Arts, and the Rock Hall to the Cleveland Museum of Art and the Children’s Museum of Cleveland, the gamut of organizations is broad, diverse, and beneficial to all communities. Whether you’re from Brook Park or Bedford, Glenville or Strongsville, you, your friends, and your family have all benefited from our arts and culture. We owe it to our future generations to continue supporting a proven, effective mechanism for enhancing our region this fall. As we approach the election, remember that the benefits of this modest tax far outweigh its cost. It’s not just an investment in the arts; it’s an investment in our community’s future.
Geralyn M. Presti is president and CEO of the Music Settlement in Cleveland. Chinenye Nkemere is board chair of Assembly for the Arts, Greater Cleveland’s nonprofit arts council, and co-founder and director of strategy at Enlightened Solutions, a nonprofit equity social advocacy and research firm.
Original Article: https://www.cleveland.com/opinion/2024/07/the-true-value-of-cuyahoga-arts-and-culture-tax-a-thriving-community-geralyn-m-presti-and-chinenye-nkemere.html
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