Opera, parks, zoo get grants in Cache County

LOGAN (AP) — The Cache County Council has awarded $1.8 million in restaurant tax revenue to several groups in the area, including more than $200,000 for the Utah Festival Opera Company.

Other awards include:

 $124,016 for Logan's Northwest Park

 $107,892 for Willow Park Zoo

 $92,853 for the bond payment on the Eccles Ice Center.

County Councilman Craig Petersen says they had requests for $4.7 million.

The money comes from the Recreation, Arts, Parks and Zoo Tax. It is a one-tenth of 1 percent sales tax, which is paid on everything sales tax is traditionally paid on except for food. The restaurant tax is a 1 percent tax on prepared food.

The opera company got $135,000 for its 2010 festival and education programs and $105,000 for marketing outside Cache Valley.