ZAP Tax renewal on this November's ballot

Yesterday the Salt Lake County Council approved ballot language for the Zoo, Arts and Parks (ZAP) tax for the November election. Residents in the county will have an opportunity to vote on this tax.

When you pay sales tax, one penny for every $10 goes to ZAP, benefiting the community by providing grants to over 160 arts and cultural organizations as well as 30+ park and recreational facilities. Every age group has benefited from this initiative. The youth of the county have benefitted through more softball, baseball and soccer fields.  Seniors have benefitted through free performances by Heart and Soul. Families have benefited from free days at the Hogle Zoo, Discovery Gateway, Natural History Museum of Utah, and The Living Planet Aquarium.  Students benefit from educational outreach provided by the Utah Symphony | Utah Opera, Repertory Dance Theatre, Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company, and Tanner Dance.  Adults and children benefit from free screenings courtesy of Sundance Institute, Utah Film Center and Salt Lake Film Society.  Cultural diversity has been enhanced through free festivals like the Living Tradition Festival, Nihon Matsuri Festival, Utah Asian Festival, Chinese Moon Festival, and Celebration of Cultural Diversity Festival.

We have also seen 13 parks and trails funded from the Flight Park in Draper to Oquirrh Park in Kearns, the Jordan River Trail to the Bonneville Shoreline Trail. In addition, 17 recreation centers have been funded in part by Salt Lake County Zoo, Arts and Parks, including Dimple Dell Recreation Center, Copperview Recreation Center, Magna Swimming Pool and the Gene Fullmer Recreation Center.

Over 7.3 million people benefited from an arts or cultural activity, event or performance, offered by a ZAP recipient. Over 24,000 people volunteer for a ZAP funded organization. Salt Lake County ZAP funded organizations provided over 20,000 education events. Over 3.8 million people receive FREE admission to an arts or cultural event funded by ZAP.

ZAP funded organizations are major contributors to Salt Lake County’s Economic Development with total expenditures over $67 million and over 2,000 paid employees.

Voters have twice overwhelmingly approved the ZAP initiative and it will be up for renewal in 2016, which is why you will see it on the ballot this November.
 
Located midpoint in Salt Lake County, Council District 3 has local projects that have received funding. ZAP has funded the Utah Cultural Celebration Center in West Valley City. The Utah Cultural Celebration Center has brought thousands of people into the district. This organization works creatively and diligently to enhance the arts and culture for West Valley City and the entire region.  Utah Cultural Celebration activities support our vast heritage and human diversity through educational experiences. ZAP has also funded the Hale Centre Theatre, Taylorsville Arts Council, Murray City Cultural Arts, the Phoenix Jazz and Swing Band, Vista Ball Diamonds, Valley Regional Park and more!

Here's a story by KUTV2's Rod Decker about ZAP:  Don't zap the ZAP tax asks Mayor McAdams | KUTV.com