SUBURBAN CLEVELAND OFFICIALS CALL FOR VOTE ON TAX EXTENSION

     A coalition of suburban Cleveland officials is attempting to
put "political pressure" on Cuyahoga County Commissioners to keep
them from extending the sin tax on alcohol and cigarettes without
a public vote, according to Stephen Koff in the Cleveland PLAIN
DEALER.  The tax was enacted in '90 to help fund the Gateway
stadium project and if extended, would contribute $4.4M a year to
the $154M renovation of Cleveland Stadium (PLAIN DEALER, 7/19).
     GATEWAY BLAME:  In this week's CRAIN'S CLEVELAND BUSINESS,
columnist Brian Tucker calls for the Cavaliers to "take the lead"
in resolving the $28M deficit for the Gateway project.  Tucker
notes that it was cost overruns due to fast-tracking at the Gund
Arena that contributed $22M to the debt (CRAIN'S CLEVELAND
BUSINESS, 7/17-23 issue).