Frequently Asked Questions

No, the tax has been in place for the past twenty years. What an individual pays in sales taxes on certain goods, most notably food and fuel are exempt from this tax, could potentially decrease if the tax is not approved by the voters of Summit County. It is a County-wide sales tax.

Bonded recreation projects have ranged from expanded facilities for Basin Recreation and Park City Municipal, The Red Barn in Oakley City, and park and playground facilities in the North Summit Recreation District. Cultural/arts projects have been awarded to organizations including Sundance Institute, Arts Kids, Park City/Summit County Public Arts Council, Park Silly Market, KPCW, Kimball Art Center, and Swaner EcoCenter, among others.

Applicants and projects for recreation grants must be publicly owned. Applicants for cultural/arts programs must be not for profit.

Counties that have implemented the RAP tax have to create an advisory board of seven members that advise the County Council on how the funds are to be distributed. Summit County has a recreation grant advisory board and a cultural/arts advisory board. Qualified applicants may apply annually for the cultural/arts grants and recreation grants when sufficient funds become available.

For cultural/arts grants the average distribution over the last five years has been nearly $900 thousand per year (from $770 thousand to $1.0 million). Due to the nature and requirements of recreation grants (must be publicly owned and a recreation facility; facility costs are generally more expensive) the County has not opened the grant process every year. In the past, once the voters have authorized the tax the Council has bonded against the recreation portion in order to fund large projects. As additional funds may come available after debt service commitments and by determination of the Council the recreation grants application will be opened. In 2002 the County bonded for $2.2 million and in 2012 the County bonded for $3.2 million. If the tax is reauthorized it is anticipated the County may bond for approximately $4.3 million. In 2019 the County awarded over $740 thousand for recreation grant projects after honoring all debt service requirements.