WASHINGTON COUNTY – The Washington County Arts Council is holding meetings throughout the county over a proposed tax for arts and recreation. If enough interest and support is raised, the proposal could appear on ballots in November 2013.
Called “Cultural Arts and Recreation Enhancement for Washington County,” or CARE, the amount proposed for the tax is 1/10th of one-percent of sales tax.
The potential uses and benefits of CARE is being shown to the residents of Zion Canyon-area communities on Monday, April 16, from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., at the Rockville Community Center, 43 E Main Street in Rockville.
“We’re trying to gauge people’s interest,” said Kim Konikow, chair of WCAC. She noted other counties had similar taxes, such as the Zoo, Arts and Parks tax in Salt Lake County that covered many artistic and cultural endeavors.
Funds from CARE, which Konikow wrote in an email could raise as much as $2 million annually, could fund school art projects, area sports teams, playgrounds, and other projects.
Meetings have been held across Washington County thus far, and are held every other month. The next meeting to discuss the CARE proposal will be in Hurricane in June.
“We will continue having meetings until 2013,” Konikow said.
Ken Hafen, the Washington County Clerk Auditor, said the county already funds particular recreational activities and venues through the Tourism, Recreation, Cultural and Convention tax.
Revenue from the TRCC tax – procured from sales tax on food bought in Washington County – goes to support the Dixie Center, Washington County Fair, regional parks and related items.
However, Hafen said he was unaware of any specific county-wide tax that currently supports art projects.
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Twitter: @MoriKessler
Copyright 2012 St. George News.
Dear WCAC, gauge this: I would be very excited to recruit citizens to fight this tax. At least change the farcical tax name from the C.A.R.E. to Washington Arts and Recreation.