Orem voters to decide on 'RAP' tax

OREM — Orem residents who profess to support cultural arts in their city must now decide if they are big enough supporters to raise taxes for it.

The Orem City Council voted late Tuesday night to ask residents to vote on a proposal that would push more money toward city recreation, arts and parks.

"I am in favor of putting this (RAP proposal) on the (November) ballot for one very simple reason," said City Councilman Dean Dickerson. "I think the citizens of Orem need to have the final say on what this is and whether it's imposed."

The proposal calls for a sales-tax increase of one-tenth of one percent — one penny for every $10 — to be earmarked or saved for recreation, arts and parks spending.

The draft of a ballot question would tell voters that "funding may be used for publicly owned or operated facilities such as parks, playing fields, trails, bike paths, performing arts center, museums and art galleries."

Money would be given to nonprofit organizations who perform live, such as theater troupes, symphonies, operas, dance or choral groups.

Festivals also could get a chunk of the change earned from the increase.

The issue has been studied for several years. It was spearheaded by a city cultural arts commission that has looked at facilities, cultural arts programs, funding, a permanent arts council and arts publicity.

They also created and presented to city leaders a strategic plan for the arts in Orem.

"We give you our strong recommendation to put this on the ballot," Mark F. Robinson, chairman of the arts commission, told city council members. "Let those who are governed decide what they want to consent to."

The path to the ballot began with the Utah County Commission.

The commission had to first decide if the tax would be preferable as a countywide initiative. If so, the city couldn't have levied its own. However, the county didn't want to impose the tax, so Orem started mulling the proposal.

With Tuesday's approval, including clarifications about ballot wording, the tax-increase question must be approved by a majority of voters.

If approved, the tax would start April 1 — after the city established it as an ordinance and handed out various legal notices.

The tax will last for eight years and can only be reinstated through another vote process.

However, some say even a non-permanent tax hike is not good for the city.

"I feel that our taxes already go for parks and recreation, so there's no need for more taxes to go for parks and recreation," said Bob Wright, an Orem resident. "We're already being taxed real heavily — recreation is a big part of the budget." However, Wright said he was in favor of any potential tax increase being put before the voters.