That's Salt Lake County's Zoo, Arts and Parks tax for you. The one-tenth of 1 percent sales tax not only built 12 recreation centers and bolstered almost 190 cultural groups from Ballet West to the Utah Civil War Association, it has spawned interest in Davis and Weber counties and Tooele City, where voters will decide if they want to raise their taxes to fund facilities and arts groups.
It is difficult to find ZAP detractors - except among the usual anti-tax groups. Mayors from all of Salt Lake County's cities support the tax. They don't have the budgets to fund the arts groups and build all the facilities their constituents want.
According to recent polls, residents want the tax. They are poised to renew it on Nov. 2 for another 10 years, likely raising between $13 million to $15 million a year.
"We're all in favor of that tax continuing," said F. Herbert Shipman, whose choral group Jubilate is one of the ZAP recipients. He said the $4,200 the tax contributed to his $10,000 budget in 2003 was crucial. His group performs in the community and local schools, teaching students their vocal techniques.
"It's really difficult to get any kind of money out of foundations. They're more interested in permanent things, things you can put a name on, rather than keeping a group going."
ZAP coordinator Kristie Marshall noted that many of the cultural groups that received the tax money existed before the tax. But ZAP "provides wonderful stability."
And it exposes more people to the nonprofit arts and cultural groups, she said. For example, ZAP money allowed organizers to put on the Asian Pacific festival for free, doubling attendance, she said.
Alan Dayton, acting Salt Lake County mayor, said he'll vote for ZAP.
"It's just a fabulous benefit to the community. It's proven. Everybody knows the money is spent well and conscientiously."
If it is renewed, there will be changes. The zoo portion will fund more than just Utah Hogle Zoo.
And the 30 percent that must fund recreational facilities - fitness centers, parks, golf courses - could also fund cultural facilities, like museums or theaters.
Ultimately, the Salt Lake County Council will decide where to put the money.
The 12 parks and recreation facilities built with ZAP cash have probably been the most popular. Consider: Parents camp out to sign up for a summer-sports program at Dimple Dell Fitness and Recreation Center, 10600 S. 1000 East.
The center opens at 5:30 a.m. "We show up here about 4:30 [a.m.] and they had started lining up at 11 [p.m.]," said Marlynn Shaffer, program coordinator. "They had little camp cots."
Salt Lake County's Parks & Recreation Division has developed a draft master plan that could be used to guide which communities get the next rock-climbing walls, gymnasiums, swimming pools and soccer fields.
Some possibilities, according to the master plan: Replace the Northwest Multi-Purpose Center, 1300 W. 300 North, with a center farther north; rebuild Central City Recreation Center, 615 S. 300 East; expand the Salt Lake City Sports Complex, 645 Guardsman Way; expand the ZAP-funded Holladay/Lions Recreation Center, 1661 E. 4800 South; build a new recreation center in Draper to relieve pressure on Dimple Dell and another to serve Riverton, Herriman and Bluffdale; build or expand parks in Bluffdale, Draper, Midvale, South Jordan and West Jordan; upgrade Magna's swimming pool; and expand Taylorsville's recreation center.
But county officials stress officials from each city will gather to come up with their priorities.
hmay@sltrib.com
Top 10 recipients of ZAP
taxes, 1997 to 2003
* Utah Symphony: $13.8 million
* Hogle Zoo: $12.8 million
* Ballet West: $8 million
* Pioneer Theatre: $4.7 million
* Utah Opera: $4.4 million
* Sundance Institute: $3.1 million
* Utah Museum of Natural History: $2.99 million
* Red Butte Garden: $2.4 million
* Utah Museum of Fine Arts: $1.9 million
* Salt Lake Acting Co.: $1.4 million
Past 10 recipients of ZAP taxes, 1997-2003
* Riverton Art Museum: $1,400
* A'Caorah Dubgh Pipe Band: $1,300
* Associated Art Historians: $1,184
* Community Prevention Services: $1,000
* Pro-Musica of Utah: $1,000
* Utah Watercolor Society: $776
* Tongan American Society: $600
* Utah Civil War Association: $600
* Washington & Lincoln Institute: $500
* Western Military History: $500
Parks and rec facilities built/improved in Round 1 of ZAP
* Holladay Lion's Park, 1661 E. Murray-Holladay Road
* Centennial Swimming Pool, 5600 W. 3100 South
* The County Ice Center and Sports Office, 5201 S. Murray Park Lane
* Dimple Dell Fitness and Recreation Center, 10600 S. 1000 East
* Equestrian Park Special Events/Fairgrounds Arena, 10800 S. 2200 West
* Fairmont Aquatic Center, 1044 E. Sugarmont Drive
* Gene Fullmer Fitness and Recreation Center, 8015 S. 2200 West
* Holladay-Lion's Fitness and Recreation Center, 1661 E. Murray-Holladay Road
* Jordan River Parkway Trail crossings at 4800 South, 3300 South, 4500 South and 12600 South
* Magna Fitness and Recreation Center, 3270 S. 8400 West
* Wheeler Historic Farm, 6351 S. 900 East
* Vista Park, 4884 S. 1950 West
Source: Salt Lake County
