Following strong support from local voters last fall, the Centerville City Council took the final legislative steps on March 24 in a short, special meeting to officially reauthorize the city’s Recreation, Arts, and Parks tax. The ordinance, known as Ordinance No. 2026-07, formalizes the results of the November 2025 municipal election, where 62 percent of voters chose to extend the tax for another decade.

Because the measure was approved by a direct vote of the people, at that meeting Mayor Clark Wilkinson verified with city attorney Lisa Romney that a further public hearing was not required before the council’s adoption of the new code.

The RAP tax is a local sales and use tax of one-tenth of one percent – 1 cent for every $10 spent on qualifying transactions within city limits. It does not apply to most grocery items or high-cost purchases like vehicle sales. Because Centerville is a regional shopping hub, city leaders say an estimated 60 percent of the revenue is generated by visitors and non-residents shopping at local businesses, such as those in the Centerville Marketplace.

The tax is designed to fund “quality of life” amenities that might otherwise require funding from property taxes. Under the new 10-year authorization, which officially took effect April 1, the revenue will continue to  provide support in three areas:

The majority of the funds generated – about 85 percent – will go to parks and recreation. This remains the largest priority. These RAP funds are earmarked for renovations at Island View Park, along with new playground equipment, and pickleball courts at Community Park. It will also help support maintenance of the city’s trail systems and hillside preservation.

About 5 percent will be used for arts and culture, primarily to help fund the CenterPoint Legacy Theatre, a joint venture with Bountiful City. Another 5 percent will go to the Whitaker Museum for the ongoing preservation of Centerville’s historical records and artifacts. The remaining funds will be used for community events, such as the Summer Concert Series, or as matching funds for specialized grants.

Centerville originally implemented the RAP tax in the mid-2000s. Utah state law requires that these taxes be put back on the ballot for voter approval every 10 years to ensure they still align with the community's priorities. By adopting the code amendment, the City Council has ensured there will be a steady stream of funding in these areas for city improvements through 2036.

The tax is retroactive to the date in November when the city notified the Utah State Tax Commission the reauthorization had been approved by the voters, Romney told Wilkinson and the city council that evening. Residents can expect to see these funds put to work in local parks and cultural programs starting this summer.