FARMINGTON — Davis County taxpayers will have the opportunity in November to support local arts groups with a slight sales tax increase after the Davis County Commission voted unanimously to put a measure on the ballot to raise sales tax 1/10th of 1 percent to fund arts, recreation and parks.

Michael Bouwhuis, president of the Davis Applied Technology College, has been active in county arts programs for several years and in several capacities and spoke about the grass-roots effort over the past five years to get a tax increase measure on the ballot.

"The RAP tax (recreation, arts and parks) provides the basic support so cities and private organizations can add their funding," Bouwhuis said. Most arts groups in the county start their funding year with either a zero or a negative balance, he said. The RAP tax is expected to raise about $3.2 million each year in the current economy, clerk/auditor Steve Rawlings told the commission.

The resolution, as passed, calls for the voters in the November general election to answer yes or no to the question of whether a 0.1 percent local sales and use tax should be imposed to fund recreational, zoological, botanical and cultural facilities and organizations in the county.

In urging the commissioners to place the question on the ballot, Bouwhuis said improvement in arts and cultural organizations will improve the livability of Davis communities. The various arts councils have formed a nonprofit group to promote the measure, and members of the groups are ready to go door-to-door to promote it, he said.

Julie Kenley, West Point, who operates a car dealership in Layton, said the Kenley Amphitheater she helped fund in Layton draws people from all over Davis County as well as nearby counties and more funds are needed to maintain the quality of its offerings.

She pointed out that one argument against funding cultural and arts organizations is that only a few people use the facilities, but she added that last month's Layton July Fourth celebration drew a crowd of 6,000 people in and around the Kenley Amphitheater, which holds only 2,000.

Bountiful Mayor Joe Johnson said there is pressure on the cities to provide recreation activities and, without new money, they can't do it.

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