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Bonds

How Major Park and Recreation Projects Are Funded

Salt Lake County Parks and Recreation uses voter-approved General Obligation (G.O.) bonds to fund large-scale capital projects. This funding is dedicated to significant investments in our community's recreational spaces, such as:

  • Building new parks, trails, and recreation centers.
  • Conducting major renovations and improvements to existing facilities.

The Approval Process for G.O. Bond Projects

For a major park or recreation project to be funded, it must go through a multi-layered approval process involving community representatives, county leadership, and the public. The required approvals include:

  1. ZAP Recreational Facilities Advisory Board: For the G.O. bond that occurs after ZAP reauthorization, an advisory board reviews potential projects. 
  2. Salt Lake County Mayor: The Mayor reviews and provides approval for proposed projects.
  3. Salt Lake County Council: The Council also reviews and approves the proposed projects and their costs.
  4. Voters: The final and most crucial approval comes from the voters through a G.O. bond election.

Role of ZAP

The Zoo, Arts, and Parks (ZAP) program is a key partner in our operations. Here's how it connects to bond funding:

  • Operational Funding: The ZAP sales tax contributes operational costs of Salt Lake County's parks and recreation facilities.
  • Separate from Capital Projects: However, ZAP funds are not used to pay for the large capital projects themselves or the associated G.O. bond debt. The reauthorization of the ZAP program is necessary because its funding ensures we can operate the new and improved facilities built with bond money.

Project Submission and Timeline

The path to getting a project on a G.O. bond ballot follows a detailed timeline outlined in the ZAP Recreational Facilities Planning and Funding Process. This includes:

  • Submission: Only government entities (like cities, townships, and municipalities) can submit proposals for capital projects, which include new facilities or significant, long-term improvements to existing ones.
  • Review and Approval: These proposals are then reviewed by the ZAP Recreational Facilities Advisory Board before moving to the Mayor and Council for consideration to be placed on a future G.O. Bond for voter approval.

Links

2012 Parks and Recreation G.O. Bond

On November 6, 2012, Salt Lake County held a special election for a Regional Parks & Trails General Obligation Bond. The bond proposition authorized the county to issue up to $47,000,000 for the purpose of acquiring land, improving parks, and extending community trails. The bond provided the means to build three new regional parks in Bluffdale, Draper, and the West Valley/Kearns area, as well as acquire land for a future park in Magna. The funds were also designated to substantially complete the Jordan River Parkway Trail and Parley's Trail. The estimated annual property tax increase to pay for the bond was $5.63 for a residence valued at $238,000.

2012 Park Bond Projects

2016 Parks and Recreation G.O. Bond

In November 2016, Salt Lake County residents voted to approve the Parks and Recreation G.O. Bond.

The 2016 Parks and Recreation Bond provided $59 million to build 11 new projects in Salt Lake County, and $31 million for maintenance and improvement funding for existing amenities/projects. Each project fills current and future recreational needs. Identified by community members in needs assessments, these needs are outlined in the Salt Lake County 2015 Parks and Recreation Facilities Master Plan.

2016 Park Bond Proposed Projects

G.O. Bond FAQ

The mission of the Zoo, Arts & Parks (ZAP) Program is to enhance Salt Lake County resident and visitor experiences through art, cultural, and recreational offerings. The ZAP Program is funded by a 0.01% sales tax on taxable goods and services. This is equal to 1 cent of sales tax revenue for every $10 in taxable sales.

The ZAP program was first voted on and passed by Salt Lake County residents in 1996. The first round of ZAP grants were awarded in 1997. Every 10 years, the ZAP program is placed on the ballot for County residents to vote for the program's renewal. The percentage of supporting voters continues to increase with each renewal cycle. The successful reach and impact of the ZAP program and the organizations it funds contributes to the continued reauthorization.

The ZAP program provides operational funding to zoological, cultural, and artistic organizations through an annual competitive grant process. In 2023, more than $25 million in funds were awarded to 232 organizations across Salt Lake County. In addition to these grants, 30% of the annual ZAP Tax revenues support Salt Lake County Parks and Recreation operating costs.

ZAP reauthorization is needed to propose G.O. bond projects for recreational facilities because the sales tax collected contributes to operation costs for Salt Lake County Parks and Recreation. ZAP sales tax proceeds are not expected to pay for Parks & Recreation capital projects or associated G.O. bond debt service. Of the annual ZAP tax revenues, 30% of them support Salt Lake County Parks and Recreation.

A government obligation (G.O.) bond funds new amenities, renovations, and improves existing recreational facilities. Parks and Recreation G.O. Bond projects are tax-payer approved and informed by Salt Lake County Parks and Recreation's ten-year master plan.

After voter reauthorization, ZAP funding is available annually, for ten years, and includes zoological, cultural, and artistic grants, as well as Parks and Recreation operations. The vote for Parks & Recreation G.O. bond funding is placed on the ballot two years after ZAP reauthorization.

The current timeline for ZAP and Parks and Recreation G.O. Bond projects is:

  • 2024: ZAP on ballot for reauthorization
  • 2025: Call for capital improvement projects, project selection, and general obligation (G.O.) bond amount identified
  • 2026: Parks and Recreation G.O. Bond on ballot
  • 2027: Dissemination of approved capital improvement project funding

NOTE: The timeline is contingent upon ZAP reauthorization and voter approval of the Parks and Recreation G.O. Bond.

To be eligible for consideration, project proposals must be submitted by a government entity. The proposed amenities must be owned, operated, and maintained by the government amenity.

A call for submissions will be announced in early 2025, following the reauthorization of ZAP in 2024.

The filtering and scoring process of project applications/submissions includes:

  • Project Qualifications (for consideration)
    • Aligns with 2025 Salt Lake County Parks and Recreation Facilities Master Plan or meets a clearly demonstrated community need
    • Located in Salt Lake County
    • Publicly (government entity) owned and/or operated
  • Criteria for Prioritization (for scoring)
    • Aligns with 2025 Salt Lake County Parks and Recreation Facilities Master Plan or meets a clearly demonstrated community need
    • Contributions that assist with project cost (financial, in-kind); encouraged, not required
    • Recommended project represent geographic diversity

Proposals that include operational and environmental efficiency components may also receive preference.

Recent examples of ZAP/Parks and Recreation G.O. Bond projects include the Wheeler Historic Farm Outdoor Education Center, several regional parks (Bingham Creek, Magna, Pioneer Crossing), and recreation centers (Cottonwood Heights, Draper City). Additional ZAP/Parks and Recreation G.O. Bond projects are detailed in the Resources section.

The ZAP Recreational Facilities Advisory Board is activated following the reauthorization of ZAP programs. The Board consists of:

  • Five (5) community at-large members
  • Four (4) mayors
  • One (1) Salt Lake County Open Space Trust Fund Advisory Committee member
  • Two (2) Salt Lake County Parks and Recreation Advisory Board members
  • Salt Lake County Parks and Recreation division director
  • Additional members may be added at the discretion of Salt Lake County Council
  • Two (2) non-voting members (Salt Lake County Community Services department director and ZAP Program director)