Nearly two years ago, Orem residents agreed to pay more sales tax to support arts and recreation programs in the city.

Last week, the City Council voted to use the $2 million raised so far to grant requests for funding to SCERA, Hale Center Theater, the Timpanogos Storytelling Festival and other performing arts groups. The city is also planning to use $375,000 to purchase land for recreational use.

When the tax was first proposed, there were some critics who said public money shouldn't be used for programs that are only enjoyed by a few people. But the City Council has taken steps to put the money where it will do the most good, investing it in institutions that cater to broad audiences.

SCERA, which received $569,000 for its programs, is more than just a movie house. It is a community center, offering something for everyone. Thousands of city children have been introduced to the arts through SCERA's youth programs, which gives kids a positive outlet for free time and an opportunity to develop a work ethic.

SCERA also has sponsored performances by the Utah Symphony, produced local renditions of Broadway plays, hosted the LDS Film Festival and brought nationally recognized performers to the SCERA Shell. Its building is open to groups needing a place that can accommodate up to 750 people.

The Hale Center Theater, which received $395,645, is one of the valley's cultural jewels. Started by Ruth and Nathan Hale, the theater's annual performance of "A Christmas Carol" has become a holiday tradition for many Utah families. It also provides audiences with the unique opportunity to see plays performed in the round.

The Timpanogos Storytelling Festival, which received $125,000, brings thousands of people to Provo Canyon to hear tales spun by nationally recognized raconteurs.

Other beneficiaries include the Utah Regional Ballet, the Utah Storytelling Guild and the Synergy Dance Company, all of which add variety to the city's cultural offerings.

Orem without these wonderful institutions and programs would be a more dismal place -- a glorified shopping mall, lacking the heart and soul that makes it a true community. It would be a place to exist, not live.

Cultural programs do more than just enrich lives. Many outsiders coming to a concert or a play will go out to dinner or go shopping while they're in town. Such activities bolster the economy and, fittingly, boost CARE tax revenues.

Plus, the city's plan to use some of the money to buy land for parks and ballfields benefits more than just people who participate in recreation programs. Parks are an effective way to preserve green space in a city, as well as create refuges from the hustle of city life.

Orem's arts and recreation programs have made the city one of the nation's most livable. The CARE tax will help ensure that it stays that way.

Voters should congratulate themselves for approving it.

This story appeared in The Daily Herald on page A5.

Do you agree?