So let's take a look at the recent news article on the Salt Lake County ZAP bonds that are building government rec centers across SLCO from the SLTRIB You paid for 'em, you got 'em: more rec goodies
Despite the downturn, rec centers have continued to rise in Salt Lake City, Herriman and Millcreek; trails have continued to branch out in Sugar House and Cottonwood Heights; skate parks have continued to pop up in Kearns and Midvale.Bonding and raising sales tax to build government-run rec centers at a time when Salt Lake County had to cut $140 million dollars from their budget isn't exactly "fiscal conservatism" Taxpayers will have to pay towards those bonds in the future and while borrowing money to build a rec center may create a temporary job for construction workers, there is no long term economic return on a public rec center.
Why? Because public funds didn’t stop paying for those amenities during the recession.
“The projects gave a boost to our economy,” Corroon said. “We were able to put construction workers back to work.”
That said, the ZAP tax also put funding for recreation centers above other critical services during tough economic times, according to the Utah Taxpayers Association.I wonder if the County employees who were laid off due to the budget shortfall are able to enjoy their time off at their new local rec center?
Howard Stephenson, a state senator and president of the business-backed association, described ZAP as “bad tax policy,” steering money toward a specific purpose — parks and recreation — without any consideration of overall government spending.
“A governing body,” he said, “should have to weigh expenses for zoos, arts and parks along with police, fire and streets.”
