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Former councilman urges neighbors to back Proposition 5 wrap tax for parks, arts and trails
Summary
Gary Winterton, a former city councilman, told Neighborhood District 1 that the city’s 0.1% wrap sales tax yields broad revenue from visitors and residents, reporting about $1.9 million last year in Provo and urging support for Proposition 5 to fund capital improvements for parks, recreation and arts for the next 10 years.
Former councilman Gary Winterton gave a five‑minute presentation urging voters to support Proposition 5, a proposed 10‑year renewal of Provo’s 1/10 of 1% ‘‘wrap’’ sales tax dedicated to recreation, arts and parks.
Winterton described the tax as a point‑of‑sale levy that brings in revenue from both residents and visitors (including event and hotel spending) and said, "Last year in Provo, we collected almost $1,900,000 through this wrap tax." He said the program has provided seed money that has helped Provo secure additional grants and leverage roughly "$23,000,000 since 02/2019" and deliver "over $50,000,000 worth of value" to community projects.
Winterton listed local jurisdictions that use similar taxes and emphasized the tax’s limits: funds are designated for recreation, arts and parks capital improvements and "it can't go anywhere else but for recreation, arts and parks." He said the tax does not go to pay salaries and highlighted projects that include Rock Canyon Park improvements and segments of the Provo River Trail.
Winterton closed by asking listeners to "encourage your friends," provided his phone number for follow up and asked residents to report any perceived misuse of wrap‑tax funds. The neighborhood chairs encouraged residents to seek him out for questions after the presentation.
No formal vote on the proposition occurred at the district meeting; Winterton presented as an advocate and requested community outreach ahead of the ballot measure.
