Orem RAP tax up in air

OREM — The Orem City Council is cautiously counting its financial eggs, but it's slow going, since nothing yet has hatched for a proposed RAP tax to help fund cultural and recreational upgrades.

In June, the City Council approved placing a recreation, arts and parks tax on the November ballot. But before that can happen, the Utah County Commission must decide whether it wants to pursue a countywide RAP tax proposition. The county is moving slowly on the issue, hence the waiting game for city officials. Adoption of a countywide tax would prevent Orem from levying its own.

The council has until Aug. 16 to finalize putting the measure on the city ballot. Although an official decision has not been made, County Commissioner Steve White said he doesn't see the commission putting a countywide RAP tax option on the ballot for November.

"Every community in the country has different needs and standards," he said. "I'd rather see each of them decide their own future, rather than us imposing (a tax) countywide."

If the county decides to pass on the "boutique" tax, Orem gets the go-ahead for a ballot spot. But then it must pass through the gantlet of public opinion in November, where tax hikes of any kind usually face stiff opposition. And often, it is even tougher when the money is targeted to specific beneficiaries.

"The question is, should the 4 percent or the 8 percent of the people who use the city's recreation system . . . to play softball or city league basketball, should they be subsidized by everybody else in the city, or should they pay a fee that's high enough to cover the costs?" White said. "It's not right to tax the whole body for something that benefits a few."

Orem's Cultural Arts Advisory Commission has studied the issue for almost three years and believes the funds would benefit enough people to be worth the small sacrifice — a one-tenth of 1 percent addition to the local sales tax that would flow directly to fund arts and recreation programs.

A five-pronged cultural arts proposal touches on facilities, cultural arts programs, funding, a permanent arts council and publicity for the arts.

There's a concern that some of the programs in the area are homeless and that existing facilities are in need of some tender, loving care to bring them back to their pristine glory — especially the SCERA theater, which has been an Orem landmark for more than 70 years.