It's up to you.

Government leaders are expected to vote today to place the proposed $895 million TRAX expansion on November's ballot, according to a straw poll of the Salt Lake County Council.

"It's the right thing to do," Councilwoman Jenny Wilson said Monday.

If voters agree, the Salt Lake Valley will see four new light-rail routes - to Draper, West Valley City, West Jordan-South Jordan and Salt Lake City International Airport - by 2014.

The property-tax price for the ride: $108 more a year on a $200,000 home.

One possible hitch: It may not be legal.

A question looms over whether the county can issue a near-billion-dollar bond for an asset it does not own and turn it over to the Utah Transit Authority. The District Attorney's Office will issue an opinion by Aug. 1.

Meanwhile, most council members point to polls showing the public wants to see TRAX at the ballot booth. One, conducted for UTA, put that number above 90 percent.

"That's almost incontrovertible," Councilman Randy Horiuchi said Monday. "I'm totally on board."

And a Salt Lake Tribune poll in June revealed 60 percent of county voters would approve the bond measure.

Monday's survey of the council signals that all four Democrats and at least one Republican - David Wilde - plan to approve the ballot move.

"That's terrific," UTA spokesman Justin Jones said. "We've worked very hard to put together a plan to bring TRAX throughout Salt Lake County 15 to 20 years ahead of schedule."

Without the tax boost, transportation planners note the new TRAX lines would not be completed until 2030.

Despite the apparent council support, the funding mechanism continues to be contentious.

Councilman Mark Crockett worries the proposal would "max out" the county's bonding capacity and take flexibility away from school districts.

Several council members and some state lawmakers prefer tapping sales taxes for TRAX expansion.

Council Chairman Cort Ashton fears the property-tax plan would dissuade businesses from relocating to Utah. A finance model from the county reveals the annual tax bump on a business worth $1 million would exceed $1,200; $6,400 on a $5 million business.

"It's a step backward in economic development," Ashton said. "We may be shooting ourselves in the foot."

To avoid that, Councilman Joe Hatch vows to float language giving the county the ability to switch to a sales-tax source or even hotel taxes to pay off the TRAX bond if the Legislature signs off.

House Speaker Greg Curtis has said he would like to hold a special legislative session to discuss funding - he prefers using sales tax - if the council places the TRAX bond on the ballot.

"We're pleased that they're moving ahead," Salt Lake Chamber President Lane Beattie said. "But we're hoping that between now and November, the Legislature can come up with something that makes more sense."

Another issue is federal matching funds.

Hatch explains UTA would be eligible for more once voters approve the tax.

"There is really no alternative in light of the requirements of federal funding matches that we can do this on the cheap," he said. "We have to ask for all of it upfront."

But Hatch, like Curtis, is interested in funneling hotel taxes, which he projects to be worth $160 million over a 25-year bond.

"That's $160 million that won't have to be raised in property tax," he said.

If the Legislature decides to use hotel cash, perhaps in a special session, it could spell the end for a Sandy soccer stadium, which relies on that pot of public money.

Still, before any money could be steered toward TRAX, it must be approved by the bond counsel, notes Karl Hendrickson, attorney for the County Council.

The legal question, Ashton says, is a "pretty significant one."

djensen@sltrib.com

Who plans to put the TRAX bond on the ballot?

* Cort Ashton - No

* Jim Bradley - Yes

* Mark Crockett - No

* Joe Hatch - Yes

* Marv Hendrickson - Unknown

* Randy Horiuchi - Yes

* Michael Jensen - Undecided

* David Wilde - Yes

* Jenny Wilson - Yes