Introduction:
As proud residents of Cache County, Utah, we are committed to ensuring that taxpayer funds have a meaningful impact on our community's cultural vitality and economic prosperity. We strongly urge the Cache County Council to enact policies that prioritize the allocation of RAPZ (Recreation, Arts, Parks, and Zoos) tax funds in ways that directly benefits our residents. A crucial aspect of this effort should be requiring organizations that receive RAPZ funding to prioritize hiring local performing artists for Cache County based private nonprofit performing groups. By making this a priority, we can bolster our local economy, create more opportunities for local artists and residents, and cultivate a cultural landscape that reflects the values and spirit of Cache County.

Background:
Utah Code 59-12-703(1)(a)(i) allows a county legislative body to impose a 0.1% sales and use tax to fund cultural, recreational, and zoological organizations and facilities, among others, within the county. In November 2002, Cache County voters approved a 1/10th of 1% sales tax, known as the RAPZ Tax. RAPZ tax money serves as a vital resource for funding cultural programs and initiatives that enrich our community. However, it is important to remember that this tax was authorized by the residents of Cache County, for the residents.

We believe it is crucial to allocate these funds in a way that maximizes benefits for our community while supporting local performing artists—including musicians, dancers, singers, actors, and other talented individuals—ensuring a meaningful investment in our people and their creative contributions.

Discussion:
Cache County boasts an unusually large pool of talented performing artists, thanks in large part to the strong support for music and arts in our schools. Despite the abundance of local talent and since the adoption of the Cache County RAPZ tax, a prevalent practice has emerged of hiring paid performing artists from outside the county and even out of state to support local cultural organizations that receive RAPZ funding.

This practice continues today, even as the number and quality of local musicians and performing artists have increased. As a result, local talent is consistently overlooked, and they are denied fair opportunities. This unfairness denies local artists the chance to earn a living doing what they do best, while also sending taxpayer dollars—our dollars—out of the county.

Cache County is uniquely positioned to support and nurture its local artistic community, and we believe it is time to prioritize local performers to ensure our community truly benefits from the RAPZ tax funds.

We propose that Cache County RAPZ committee incentivize those private nonprofit organizations that will prioritize local talent to ensure taxpayer dollars are reinvested back into our community.

This strategic measure will foster engagement with Cache County's rich pool of talent, providing valuable opportunities for local performing artists while maximizing the impact of public funds.  By directing support towards organizations committed to local hiring practices, we promote a more sustainable and equitable cultural sector, one that fosters a vibrant, inclusive community enriched by its own artistic talent. 

Call to Action:
We, the undersigned residents of Cache County, urge the County Council to implement the following policies:

• Prioritize organizations demonstrating a history of hiring local performing artists in the allotment of RAPZ funds.
• Meet with local professional artists and musicians who are intimately familiar with this issue, to collaborate on developing proposals for moving forward.

These measures will not only ensure that taxpayer funds are used more effectively but also support the growth and vitality of our local arts and music scene.

Closing:
Your support is paramount in shaping Cache County's cultural landscape and fostering a stronger sense of community.

We urge the County Council to act swiftly to implement these changes. The future of our local arts community, and the effective use of public funds, depends on prioritizing local talent and fostering a truly inclusive cultural environment. Your support in this effort will have lasting benefits for both our artistic community and the county as a whole.