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Council approves five-year, $300,000/year sponsorship for Ruth and Nathan Hale Theater
Summary
Pleasant Grove City Council unanimously approved a rolling five-year sponsorship committing $300,000 per year from the CARE Tax to the Hale Center Foundation for the Ruth and Nathan Hale Theater; city staff cited an LRB study estimating substantial economic impacts.
The Pleasant Grove City Council voted Feb. 4 to adopt Resolution 2025-06, authorizing a sponsorship agreement with the Hale Center Foundation for the Arts and Education related to the Ruth and Nathan Hale Theater. The agreement commits $300,000 annually from the Community, Arts, and Recreation Enhancement (CARE) Tax, is structured as a five-year rolling agreement, and includes a one-year opt-out clause for either party.
City Administrator Scott Darrington summarized the financial terms and said the city will receive benefits under the sponsorship, including membership in the Impact Club and 20 tickets per show for distribution to city employees. "The recommendation is to use CARE Tax only," Darrington said, explaining that CARE funds are earmarked for community arts uses. He referenced an LRB fiscal-impact study estimating a $714 million economic impact for the theater from 2023 to 2030 and an estimated $42 million in sales-tax fiscal impact across Pleasant Grove, Utah County and the State.
Council members expressed interest in seeing the supporting impact study materials. Council Member Steve Rogers asked that the impact study be made available at the Regular Session presentation; Administrator Darrington said the study information would be shared. Council Member Cyd LeMone noted there were multiple benefit categories tied to the sponsorship but stressed the importance of CARE Tax being the funding source.
Council adopted Resolution 2025-06 by unanimous vote (motion by Eric Jensen, seconded by Dianna Andersen). The City will budget the annual CARE Tax allocation and oversee distribution in accordance with the sponsorship agreement terms.
