Orem needs arts, recreation tax

Since a cultural arts and recreation sales and use tax increase of one-tenth of 1 percent will be on the Orem city ballot on Nov. 8, as former and current members of the Orem Cultural Arts Advisory Commission and Recreation Advisory Commission who have been involved with this issue, we thought it would be advisable to explain where this proposition came from.

Over the past several years the Orem Recreation Advisory Commission has been identifying recreation needs. With the help of two public surveys, the commission identified needs for new parks, additional playing fields, fitness center upgrade, a new outdoor pool, bike paths and walking trails. Thanks to one-time legislative money, many of those needs were met through creation of a sports park, the new swimming pool and renovation of the fitness center. However, other needs remain unfunded today. These include more soccer and other ball fields, bike paths and walking trails.

In February 2004, the Orem mayor and City Council appointed a Cultural Arts Advisory Commission and charged it to "develop and maintain a cultural arts master plan for Orem City." The commission accepted the charge and began its assignment with no preconceived ideas, working from scratch to develop the best plan it could envision. On May 14, 2004, the commission submitted the strategic plan to the City Council. The plan was the culmination of 16 months of work, incorporating data from surveys of Orem's community at large, its business community, the local arts community, and input received in joint meetings with cultural arts groups, organizations and educators. The survey results showed that a majority of the citizen respondents and the business respondents believed that the city should do more to encourage cultural arts opportunities in Orem.

Given the needs that exist for both recreation and cultural arts in Orem, the commission strongly recommended that a "Proposal to Enact a Sales and Use Tax for Cultural Arts and Recreation" be placed on the general election ballot in November 2005. The question on the ballot asks citizens whether a one-tenth of 1 percent (one penny on $10) increase on all sales tax in Orem should be implemented to generate monies specifically directed to enhance recreation and cultural arts in our city. The mayor and City Council unanimously voted to place the proposal on the ballot.

One-tenth of 1 percent will generate an additional $1.6 million per year for a period of eight years until the tax automatically ends. That revenue can be used to enrich recreation and cultural arts in Orem. Possible uses of these monies include helping develop cultural arts facilities in Orem to enhance SCERA, Hale Center Theater Orem, the Utah Regional Ballet, the Utah Valley Symphony and Youth Symphony, the Timpanogos Storytelling Festival, museums, music, dance and art, as well as supporting arts organizations that provide these programs. In addition, remaining recreation needs can be funded, such as more recreational playing fields for soccer, baseball and softball, as well as paths and trails for biking and walking.

As citizens in Orem we care about its future and about the quality of life for ourselves, our children and grandchildren. The revenue from this tax, coupled with other funds that will be generated through donations, grants, partnerships and increased economic activity, will multiply the value of the small one-tenth of 1 percent tax increase and will result in much larger long-term benefits to Orem city than are possible without the tax. We urge all citizens who care about Orem's future to vote yes on this proposition on Nov. 8.

Richard Davis is a member of the Orem Recreation Advisory Commission and the Cultural Arts Advisory Commission. Mark Robinson is chairman of the Orem Cultural Arts Advisory Commission. Doyle Buckwalter is chairman of the Orem Recreation Advisory Commission.

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