CAC Receives Clean Audit for Fourth Consecutive Year: Ohio Auditor of State Finds No Deficiencies in CAC Financial Audit

Cleveland (June 9, 2011) - For the fourth year in a row, Cuyahoga Arts & Culture’s annual financial review by auditors from the State of Ohio has resulted in an "unqualified opinion," which is the cleanest possible audit they award. Every year since CAC was created by the voters of Cuyahoga County, it has achieved this level of audit findings, with no comments or deficiencies. “This is great news from our perspective,” said CAC Executive Director Karen Gahl-Mills. “It demonstrates to the taxpayers of this county that we are efficient and effective stewards of the public dollars that we manage.”

As a political subdivision of the State of Ohio, CAC is a public agency that is required to undergo an annual audit, conducted by the Ohio Auditor of State. For nearly two weeks each year, a team of auditors makes a comprehensive review of CAC’s financial documents, including invoices, receipts, etc.

“We return more than 95 percent of the tax money we collect back to the community in the form of grants for arts and culture programming,” said Gahl-Mills. “We take great effort to ensure our funds are spent wisely and in the public’s interest. This audit has again demonstrated our success at living up to our goal of financial responsibility.”

CAC is an independent unit of government that collects a dedicated tax on cigarettes sold in Cuyahoga County, to fund local arts and culture organizations. Since issuing its first round of grant funding in 2008, CAC has become the largest public funder of arts and culture in the State of Ohio and among the top public funders in the nation. CAC has invested nearly $65 million in nearly 150 Cuyahoga County-based nonprofit organizations that provide a broad range of art and cultural programming, from museums and theater performances, to classes and workshops for children and seniors.

All CAC board meetings are open to the public, and individuals are encouraged to attend and participate. For more information about CAC grant programs or meetings, call 216.515.8303 or visit www.cacgrants.org.