Cuyahoga County Seeks Voter Approval to Increase 'Sin Tax' for Sports Stadiums

The current tax on cigarettes and alcohol is set to expire in 2035, but officials want to raise more funds to cover stadium repairs.

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

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Cuyahoga County officials are seeking to significantly increase the 'sin tax' on cigarettes and alcohol in order to raise more money for repairs at Cleveland's three professional sports stadiums. The current sin tax, which was first approved by voters in 1990, has struggled to keep up with rising costs, leading to increased reliance on the county's and city's general funds. Now, County Executive Chris Ronayne hopes to get voter approval to triple or quadruple the tax rate, which could generate $15 million to $19 million per stadium annually if sales remain steady.

Why it matters

The sin tax has been a critical source of funding for the construction and upkeep of Cleveland's major sports venues, including Progressive Field, Rocket Arena, and Huntington Bank Field. However, declining cigarette sales and rising stadium repair costs have put a strain on the tax's ability to cover these expenses, forcing local governments to dip into their general funds. Increasing the sin tax could help alleviate this burden and ensure the long-term financial stability of the city's sports facilities.

The details

The current sin tax rates in Cuyahoga County are 4.5 cents per pack of cigarettes, 1.5 cents per 12-ounce container of beer, 6 cents per 750-milliliter bottle of wine, 24 cents per gallon of cider, 32 cents per gallon of mixed beverages, and $3 per gallon of hard liquor. The tax is collected at the point of sale as part of the county's broader sales tax system. Vaping and marijuana products are not currently taxed. The tax revenue is used to fund capital repairs and renovations at the three major sports stadiums, but cannot be used for routine maintenance or team payroll.

  • Voters first approved a 15-year sin tax in May 1990 to build Jacobs Field and Gund Arena.
  • In November 1995, voters approved a 10-year extension to build a new football stadium after the original Cleveland Browns relocated to Baltimore.
  • In May 2014, voters approved another 20-year extension, with collections set to continue through 2035.

The players

Cuyahoga County

The county in which Cleveland, Ohio is located, and the entity that collects and manages the sin tax revenue.

Chris Ronayne

The Cuyahoga County Executive who is seeking to increase the sin tax rate in order to cover future stadium costs.

Gateway Economic Development Corp.

The nonprofit organization that owns Progressive Field and Rocket Arena and enforces team leases on behalf of Cuyahoga County.

Cleveland Browns

One of the three professional sports teams that plays in a stadium funded by the Cuyahoga County sin tax.

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What they’re saying

“Our goal at the county is to take the general fund out of the equation on financing of the ballpark and arena.”

— Chris Ronayne, Cuyahoga County Executive (cleveland.com)

What’s next

Cuyahoga County officials are working to petition the state for permission to increase the sin tax rate, which would then require voter approval. A ballot measure could be put before voters as early as November 2026, though the timeline and specifics are still being finalized.

The takeaway

The Cuyahoga County sin tax has been a crucial source of funding for Cleveland's major sports facilities, but declining revenues and rising costs have put a strain on the system. Increasing the tax rate could help ensure the long-term financial stability of these venues, though any changes would need to be approved by county voters.