City evaluates potential RAP Tax for community projects
Eagle Mountain City is asking voters this November to consider a proposal that could help fund recreation, arts and parks amenities across the community.
The proposal, if adopted by voters, would enact a Recreation, Arts, and Parks (RAP) Tax of 0.1%, or one cent for every $10 spent on most retail purchases within city limits.
“Every time Eagle Mountain residents shop in neighboring cities, they’re already paying this tax and helping fund other communities’ parks and arts programs,” says Eagle Mountain City Manager Ben Reeves said. “We can keep those dollars at home and use them to directly benefit our own residents.”
The RAP Tax could generate about $600,000 in its first year, with revenue expected to grow alongside Eagle Mountain’s expanding economy.
These funds would be dedicated exclusively to recreation, arts, and parks, providing a protected source of funding for enhancements that improve quality of life.
According to the City, the RAP Tax revenue could help fund a wide range of improvements, including upgrades to local and regional parks, expanded trail systems, enhanced playgrounds, new event pavilions, and even grants for local arts and cultural organizations.
“This can make meaningful, incremental improvements across the city that support families, youth programs, events, and the outdoor lifestyle that so many of our residents value,” Reeves said.
According to the City’s website RAP tax calculator, a $100 purchase would only add 10 cents in tax. But when aggregated across the city’s growing consumer base, those small amounts add up.
“The cost to our shoppers should be considered minimal,” said Tyler Maffitt, Communications Manager for Eagle Mountain City. “It could mean, however, millions of dollars over a decade that we can invest directly into our parks, our trails, and our cultural programming.”
Maffitt noted that the tax is not just paid by residents, but also by visitors who shop in Eagle Mountain.
“It’s a smart approach,” Maffitt said. “It’s protected and reserved for enhancing the parts of the community people enjoy most. As a result, the City will now have money opened up in our General Fund that can be used for roads and other infrastructure over the coming years.”
The Eagle Mountain City Council would make final decisions about how RAP funds are allocated, with input from a resident-led committee that will recommend projects during the City’s annual budget process.
Potential projects identified by the City could include improved sports fields, trail connections, shade structures and revitalized community gathering areas. Funding could also support events and community arts initiatives that help foster a stronger civic identity.
“Economically, we’re growing rapidly. With that growth comes the need to invest in quality-of-life improvements,” Reeves said. “The RAP Tax gives us a way to do that responsibly, without shifting the financial burden onto property owners or reducing other services.”
Eagle Mountain is one of the few cities in Utah without a RAP Tax. Neighboring cities such as Saratoga Springs and Lehi already collect this tax and have used it to enhance amenities.
More information about the RAP Tax proposal and a tax calculator are available on the City’s website at eaglemountain.gov/raptax.