Orem approves RAP tax

OREM — Orem residents love the arts — and voters said Tuesday night they're willing to pay for them.

When the polls closed, residents had approved a 1/10th of 1 percent increase in the local-option portion of the sales tax for the 8-year RAP — Recreation, Arts and Parks — tax.

The final unofficial numbers: 5,016 to 3,661 votes.

The tax, also known as a CARE tax in Orem — Cultural Arts and Recreation Enhancement — will pull 10 cents from every $100 in sales tax and funnel it into cultural arts and recreation programs in the city.

The tax is projected to generate almost $1.6 million a year, based on the city's current sales tax figures.

The money can be used for live theater, symphonies, operas, ballets or other nonprofit entities. The funds can also be used for publicly owned facilities such as parks, trails, bike paths, performing arts centers or museums.

Cultural groups interested in getting funds must go through an application process, with the City Council ultimately deciding who will get money.

Supporters of the tax gathered at the SCERA Theater Tuesday night to watch the results come in and then celebrate.

Mark F. Robinson, chairman of the cultural arts advisory commission, said they were hoping for a victory with at least 60 percent of the vote, which was close to the unofficial margin.

He said the commission and other supporters put up 500 signs, distributed more than 12,000 fliers and sent out three targeted mailers.

The only group to oppose the tax hike was the Utah Taxpayers Association, which argued that those Orem residents who really love arts and recreation should support them on their own rather than increasing the taxes for all residents.

The association placed fliers around the city and posted a statement opposing the measure on its Web site.

That apparently wasn't enough to counter the yellow signs dotting the Orem landscape encouraging residents to CARE for Orem.

"They did have some signs," Robinson said of the opposition. "I'm sure they were effective, but we hope ours were more effective."

The Orem mayoral race had an even larger margin than the RAP tax issue.

With a difference of more than 5,000 votes, incumbent Jerry Washburn beat challenger David E. Workman and will continue to head the city.

Washburn said he is gratified by the chance to serve his city again and was pleased the race was so pleasant.

"All candidates conducted themselves . . . with great dignity and were totally issue-oriented. I'm very grateful for that kind of a campaign," he said.

In final but unofficial results, the City Council seats went to the incumbents, Karen McCandless with 6,072 votes, Shiree Thurston with 4,509 and Dean Dickerson with 3,958.

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