Orem City Proposed Care Tax Funds Expenditures

Note:  It appears the journalist covering this story wrote it without knowing the council vote. 
This story should read:  the proposed Care Tax Expenditures presented to the Orem City
Council.

Orem council approves use of CARE tax for rec center

Genelle Pugmire - Daily Herald

If all goes as discussed in Tuesday's city council meeting, Orem will have a new dog park, improved ball fields, more parking at Lakeside Sports Park, and a remodel and upgrade to the city's 32 year-old recreation center -- all paid for with CARE tax money that has been collected in the past six years by the parks and recreation department.

According to city manager Bruce Chesnut, the CARE funds, by law, must be used for public facilities and programs for non-profit organizations. The original proposal for the recreation department was to acquire property to extend sports fields, but the city has not been able to find the appropriate land for the right price. The city was outbid on one piece they were hoping for.

About a year ago, seeing they may not get the land but they still had the money, the recreation commission formulated a needs and wants list for the city. According to recreation director Karl Hirst, "They held three recreation open houses, were a part of five city open houses, visited with cosponsoring groups and met with the city council."

Cosponsor groups include baseball, swimming, football and three different city soccer leagues, all of which were asked to give their priorities.

Prior to the vote the council discussed the final numbers on the finances for a remodel on the rec center. There likely is not enough money yet for that remodel, but the ordinance was amended to include a provision that $500,000 of CARE tax revenue to the rec center in the next two years to pay for it.

With the council's approval, the CARE funds will be spent on the following projects by ordinance:

• $20,000 to construct a half-acre dog park, most likely in the northwest corner of the Scera Park;

• $300,000 to improve the infields and backstops on the two west fields at City Center Park and provide shade and protective structures over spectators;

• $200,000 to resolve the parking issues at Lakeside Sports Park;

• Approximately $3.3 million to remodel the existing indoor pool and locker rooms at the Orem Fitness Center.

According to Hirst a remodel is long overdue for the rec center. "One way or another I have to do a remodel."

"I've also had a lot of calls for the dog park. Currently there is nowhere in Orem for dogs to go off leash legally," Hirst said.

City spokeswoman Charlene Crozier said, "It's good for the residents to know the care going into the city. There is tremendous impact on recreation in the city."

She added that although land is getting scarce, looking for the right property continues to be a priority.

"The CARE tax is doing a lot of good for a lot of people," Crozier said.
Genelle Pugmire. Herald Extra.com