• Amendment 3: This is a two-part amendment to the state constitution that would expressly define marriage as a union between a man and a woman, and would expressly forbid any other type of union from being granted the same rights as a marriage. The owners of this newspaper, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, issued a statement recently saying it, "favors measures that define marriage as the union of a man and a woman and that do not confer legal status on any other sexual relationship." Church officials say this is not an endorsement of Amendment 3. We have decided to let this statement speak for itself and to issue no further recommendation.

• Davis County measures: Voters in Davis County face two important decisions. Proposition 1 concerns whether to issue $24.8 in general obligation bonds for construction of an addition to the county jail. This is a badly needed item in a fast-growing county. One of the legitimate functions of a government is to provide for the safety of its citizens. Our recommendation: Vote yes.

Proposition 2 asks county residents whether they want to continue adding measured amounts of fluoride to their water supply. Based on the literally thousands of scientific studies showing the positive effects of fluoridation, we recommend voters say yes.

• ZAP tax: In Salt Lake County, voters will asked whether to extend the sales tax levy, first approved in 1996, that provides extra money to the zoo, arts organizations and county parks. This has been a popular levy that has helped expose thousands of school children to cultural and educational opportunities that otherwise would have been closed to them. Some other counties are proposing similar taxes (in Davis County, it goes by the acronym RAP) Our recommendation on all: Vote yes.