Orem residents will have the opportunity this election to vote on Proposition 6, which is for a renewal of the Orem CARE tax that was first implemented in 2006.

The CARE tax, using an abbreviation that stands for Cultural Arts and Recreation Enrichment, is a minimal portion of local sales tax that is used to provide funding for arts, recreation and parks in Orem.

The tax is one-tenth of 1% of local sales tax, which is a penny for every $10 spent when shopping in Orem.

SCERA, which provides arts education programs, puts on theater productions and art galleries and operates the Orem Heritage Museum, is one of several organizations that benefit from the Orem CARE tax.

“The additional support we get from CARE allows SCERA to thrive, not just survive,” said Adam Robertson, president of SCERA.

This year, SCERA received $842,675 from the CARE fund and an additional $195,000 for facility improvements to the SCERA Shell Outdoor Theater. Several other art and cultural organizations received funding this year, like the World Folkfest, Utah Metropolitan Ballet and Timpanogos Symphony Orchestra. Overall, CARE generated about $3.5 million in 2022.

Robertson said CARE has helped SCERA operate the Orem Heritage Museum, which is free for the public, and increase their children’s education programs and performances.

“There’s nothing greater than sitting at the SCERA Shell in the summertime and watching people coming in and taking their seats and waving across the way to their neighbors and talking with people,” Robertson said. “It is the very definition of community.”

Having affordable events and programs that families can access is important, he said, adding that CARE helps SCERA provide that for Orem.

“So I think it’s important to, you know, to not undervalue the affordability in our community as well and CARE helps with that,” Robertson said.

Orem City Council member Dave Spencer said he supports CARE and added that since it comes from sales tax, anyone who shops at Orem businesses, like the University Mall, contributes to the fund.

“So it benefits the citizens of Orem and gives us good programs for a very inexpensive price,” he said. “It’s just a good bang for the buck.”

Parks and recreation also receive significant funding from CARE, such as recent improvements at the Lakeside Sports Complex, the splash pad at Palisade Park and the Orem Fitness Center.

The CARE tax has support from all six City Council candidates as well as current council members and the mayor.

Spencer said he believes the CARE tax is something that can unite Orem residents and is something almost everyone can agree on.

“Maybe it’s a bridge that brings people together even though people disagree in other things, but I think we all agree with the CARE tax and I think it benefits Orem and goes back to our slogan as Family City USA,” he said.

The CARE tax was first voted on and approved by citizens in 2005 and was renewed during the 2013 municipal elections. If voters approve to renew it later this month, that tax will continue for 10 more years before needing citizen approval again.

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