FitzGerald wants performance-based sin tax plan

CLEVELAND (AP) — Cuyahoga County’s top official and candidate for governor Ed Fitzgerald wants to base a portion of sin-tax funding for stadiums and arenas on the performance of Cleveland sports teams.

An official in FitzGerald’s office says the county executive wants to create a board to determine how to tie team performance to 20 percent of the annual sin-tax revenue. That 20 percent collected from cigarettes and alcohol sales is expected to total $2.6 million annually.

The sin-tax money helps pay for maintenance at Progressive Field, home of the Indians; Quicken Loans Arena, home of the Cavaliers; and FirstEnergy Stadium, home of the Browns.

Fitzgerald — the Democratic for governor — will announce his plan later today. County council will have to approve the proposal.