r By Steve Southwick, PaysonrNext month Payson residents will have an opportunity to approve a citywide tax to fund cultural and recreational projects. Under the PARC program, one penny on every $10 spent would be specifically earmarked for Payson recreation, arts and culture programs.
Payson City Councilman Brian Hulet supports the project: “Projects the city budget doesn’t go far enough to cover.”
The money cannot be transferred to the city’s general fund and must be spent in our community to support to recreation, arts and parks. The funding could include support for choral groups, bands, festivals-celebrations, biking/walking trails and youth arts and theater programs.
If approved, a citizens committee will be established to help decide how the money will be spent. There would be a grant process to obtain money from the city.
Several Utah cities have enjoyed voter approval including Provo, Orem,rWashington County and Cedar City, which achieved over 67 percent support.
“I don’t see this as a tax. What we get back from this investment in this community far outweighs what the dollars and cents show at the bottom of the balance sheet,” says Michelle Wood, a Payson resident who supports the measure.
If voters approve the PARC program Nov. 8, it would be implemented the first of next year and run for 10 years.
