The ZAP Tax may have an unfortunate name (nobody wants to be "zapped" with a tax), but the tax has been a fortunate benefit for citizens of Salt Lake County. Because of the ZAP tax, the character and quality of the county has been enhanced. Taxes, at times, make for strange bedfellows. And when ZAP was proposed in 1996, it had the earmarks of a boondoggle. The zoo, parks and artists ranging from ballet dancers to belly dancers seemed to have been tossed together into a political action committee. Some felt that perhaps if organ grinders had shown an interest, we'd have the ZAPO tax.

But the fears were unfounded.

Since going into effect, the ZAP tax has built 12 new park and recreation facilities and helped 120 organizations around the county. Among the ZAP facilities are the Centennial Swimming Pool in West Valley, the Gene Fullmer Fitness Center in West Jordan, Equestrian Park in South Jordan and the Vista Park in Taylorsville.

On the cultural end, 23 efforts have benefited locally, including dance companies, theater groups, the Utah Arts Festival, the Utah Humanities Council and the First Night annual celebration. Some 90 other groups — such as Art Access and Tracy Aviary — also reap rewards from the tax.

Because of the tax, ticket prices can be held in check and special discounts can be offered to groups. Each year, 2 million souls are involved in recreation and art projects helped by ZAP. Sometime in the next couple of years, the number of people who have used ZAP-sponsored facilities will hit the 10 million mark.

According to surveys by the ZAP re-authorization committee, 86 percent of voters approve of the tax. And unlike other taxes, it hasn't suffered from creeping decimal points. It began as one-tenth of 1 percent of the sales tax revenue, and it has remained such.

This fall, the ZAP tax is not only up for renewal, but several other counties have put similar endeavors on the ballot.

We admonish voters to examine those measures closely and learn where the money will come from and where it will go.

That said, however, if the proposed arts and park proposals in other counties work as well as ZAP has worked for Salt Lake County, those counties — too — will be singing and dancing over their upgraded quality of life.