Salt Lake County Zoo, Arts & Parks (ZAP) Initiative Reauthorized for Fourth Time

Salt Lake County, UT—As in previous years, Salt Lake County residents voted to reauthorize the Zoo, Arts & Parks (ZAP) tax. As of 11 AM this morning, it has received 79 percent of the vote. This marks the fourth ZAP reauthorization by voters. ZAP was initially authorized in 1996, received 71 percent of the vote in 2004, and voter approval grew to 77 percent in 2014.

“The timing of the reauthorization is serendipitous because ZAP will be celebrating its 30th year in 2026,” said ZAP Program Director Samantha Thermos. “We are incredibly grateful for the community’s ongoing support—fiscally and physically—of the enriching cultural events, performances, educational programs, and other opportunities that ZAP helps fund.”

The ZAP reauthorization secures ten years of funding dedicated to enhancing Salt Lake County resident and visitor experiences through art, cultural, historical, botanical, and recreational offerings. From grants to public awareness to capacity building, ZAP is an invaluable resource for non-profit organizations in Salt Lake County. Additionally, the ZAP tax funds approximately 30 percent ($10 million annually for the next ten years) of Salt Lake County Parks and Recreation’s operations costs.

“Salt Lake County Parks and Recreation is committed to providing indoor and outdoor recreational opportunities around the county,” Salt Lake County Parks and Recreation Director Chris Otto shared. “As a public agency, many of our amenities are free or low cost to use because removing barriers to recreation access is a priority to us. ZAP funds offset operational costs, including staffing, associated with managing hundreds of public recreational amenities around the County.”

Over the next ten years, it is estimated the ZAP tax will provide $26 million each year for arts and cultural programming within Salt Lake County.

“ZAP has been an integral funding source for local arts, culture, botanical, recreation, parks, and zoological organizations for decades,” stated Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson. “Our community’s love of these offerings is demonstrated by their ZAP reauthorization and by them participating in events and visiting amenities that are supported by the tax.”

According to the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute, approximately 80 percent of Salt Lake County residents participate in at least one ZAP-funded event each year, with nearly 70 percent of residents participating more than three times per year.

"ZAP funding is critical to the Utah Museum of Fine Arts' (UMFA) success,” shared UMFA’s Executive Director Gretchen Dietrich. It supports the work the UMFA does throughout Salt Lake County and helps to underwrite the numerous free programs offered to residents, families, and students. ZAP funding makes all of the UMFA's beautiful and thoughtful work possible-including exhibitions, public programming, learning and engagement offerings, and collections care for future generations."

In 2025, thanks to a unanimous decision by Salt Lake County Council in October, $26 million in ZAP funding will empower 244 arts, cultural, and zoological nonprofits.

If you would like more information regarding the ZAP program, or to apply for future funds, contact Samantha Thermos, ZAP Program Director, at sthermos@slco.org or 385-468-7057.

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About ZAP

Salt Lake County Zoo, Arts & Parks (ZAP) program enhances Salt Lake County resident and visitor experiences through arts, cultural, historical, zoological, and recreational offerings. Grant programs are funded by one cent of every $10 of sales tax collected in the County. In addition to providing financial support for more than 200 county arts and cultural organizations, ZAP funds a portion of operational costs for Salt Lake County Parks and Recreation. The ZAP program has received voter support from Salt Lake County residents since 1996. For more information, visit zapisyou.org or follow ZAP on Instagram.