The Salt Lake County Council is poised to jack up vehicle registration by $10 - as greased by the 2005 Legislature - to help preserve land for the planned Mountain View Corridor.

That route, running along the county's west side from Salt Lake City to Bluffdale, is slated for construction sometime within the next decade and is expected to be a toll road.

The registration-fee bump, which could take effect July 1, is expected to generate nearly $200 million over the next 20 years. That is the estimated price to secure the land, although the speeded-up construction tab would be separate - and likely paid through tolls.

Earlier this month, the county's Council of Governments, comprising city and county leaders, adopted a resolution urging the government to green-light the move. A preliminary vote could come today and final approval later this month to meet an April 1 deadline.

Mayor Peter Corroon says he hates to hike fees, but insists the time is now before the land appreciates.

"Our forefathers never bothered to preserve any route," he says. "It's something we have to do now to save a lot of pain and money in the future."

But some County Council members are uncomfortable, arguing they could take the political heat - in an election year - while the cities and state reap the reward.

"There's absolutely no question it is a tax increase," Councilman Joe Hatch says. "It's disguised as a user fee."

Hatch prefers a bond to expand light rail spurs to the west side. And he vows to vote against the fee unless the county rejects the toll idea.

State lawmakers recently passed a measure allowing the Utah Department of Transportation to charge a toll along the corridor.

During the 2005 legislative session, SB8, sponsored by Sen. Sheldon Killpack, R-Syracuse, paved the way for a locally imposed registration fee of up to $10 for each motor vehicle. The stated purpose was to advance the acquisition of rights of way for future highways.

Salt Lake County Councilman Michael Jensen, who represents west-siders, strongly supports the fee.

So do west-end cities, although mayors there lament that their constituents - unlike, say, Davis County residents who will use the Legacy Parkway - likely will have to cough up tolls to traverse the Mountain View Corridor.

Hatch also points to the dearth of discussion about a Davis County tax or tolls for construction of Legacy.

''It seems Salt Lake County gets the 'pleasure' of taxing itself for its roads,'' he gripes.

Despite serving the Salt Lake Valley's east side, Cottonwood Heights Mayor Kelvyn Cullimore backs the registration bump, arguing transportation is a regional issue.

"By building the Mountain View [Corridor], we have the option of shifting traffic off I-15 and that benefits everybody," he says. "Everybody pays the tax but everybody benefits when the freeway is expanded to relieve congestion."

Val Halford, a planner with the Wasatch Front Regional Council, maintains the cost to preserve the Mountain View Corridor never will be cheaper.

"It will be less cost-prohibitive today than it will be tomorrow."

djensen@sltrib.com