CENTERVILLE -- Nothing supports a vision for the future, or shows a group's belief in that vision, quite like several million dollars. Though a formal decision will have to wait for more detailed financial information, the Centerville Redevelopment Agency (RDA) will likely contribute $5 million in bonding capability to the construction of the proposed South Davis Theater, as well as the parcel of land that the theater will sit on. The value of that land is approximately $1 million.

"It's a little premature for specifics, but the RDA board members seemed comfortable with that amount," said Centerville City Financial Director Blaine Lutz. "We still need to make sure we have money available for other projects."

Some of those other potential projects were discussed in last week's meeting, including a traffic light at 400 West and Porter Lane, gateway landscaping, and the intersection of 400 West and Parrish Lane.

According to Lutz, the RDA has about $9 million in funds available next year to divide between all of the possible projects, including the South Davis Theater.

At their meeting the group also approved a new financial study for the theater, re-evaluating and detailing the specific funds that will be available for construction of the theater.

A similar study, conducted earlier this year, sketched out funding sources to see if constructing the theater would even be possible. This new study, conducted by the same group, would account for the reduced RAP tax income, the Centerville RDA commitment, and specific amounts from groups that can be depended on to deliver during construction.

Part of that funding will come from Bountiful and Centerville City's RAP tax, which was recently passed in both cities and should take effect sometime next April.

The original study, however, included RAP tax funds from all four south Davis cities who voted on it, including Woods Cross and West Bountiful, and the RDA board members feel they need to see the impact of the missing cities.

"Over the next four to six weeks, we want to get down to the really nitty gritty details," said Lutz. "We need to know what we can actually count on."

The study would also re-evaluate current plans for the South Davis Theater, and see if Centerville and Bountiful can afford constructing the theater according to those plans or find some way to scale them back until the theater strikes the best balance of quality and affordability.

According to the earlier study, the projected cost to construct the theater as currently planned would be more than $14 million, including land, site preparation, engineering, architecture, and building costs. In that plan, the theater would include both a larger stage with balcony seating and a smaller, "black box" style stage, as well as several gallery and rehearsal rooms.

"There are lots of things that still need to come together," said Lutz. "But everyone's anxious to move forward."

jwardell@davisclipper.com