Salt Lake County's great debate over funding for a Major League Soccer stadium in Sandy ended with a one-vote blessing Tuesday, but not before politics and tempers flared.

After two hours of sniping and speechmaking, the County Council voted 5-4 to steer $40 million in old and new hotel taxes to help Real Salt Lake construct its 20,000-seat stadium near 9400 S. State.

Parties on all sides conceded the stadium odyssey was riddled with too many insults and not enough communication - County Mayor Peter Corroon called it "the worst process I have been involved with since I've been mayor" - though most of the power players insisted the deal will pay dividends for the public.

"This is not a public giveaway," said Corroon, calling the deal more of a "letter of intent" than a contract. "This is an investment which will bring a healthy return."

Moments after the vote, RSL owner Dave Checketts stood to pump Sandy Mayor Tom Dolan's hand, followed immediately by a congratulatory shake from Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson, heralded for pulling the key pols together in the eleventh hour.

"I've learned a tremendous amount," said a humble but happy Checketts. "It's been difficult. But I'm grateful we're able to move on."

Councilwoman Jenny Wilson, who opposed previous funding plans, argued the new model provides a smorgasbord of benefits for citizens. She proved to be the decisive vote Tuesday.

"The risk is being beared solely by Real," Wilson said. "In my heart, I believe this is a great deal for Salt Lake County."

Questions remain, however, about whether the money agreed to in principle Tuesday, ever will be there.

The deal calls for giving RSL $10 million in hotel taxes in 2011 then another $10 million in 2015. But council attorney Karl Hendrickson warned that may pose problems since the Utah Supreme Court has consistently ruled such expenditures are a legislative act.

"It's very unlikely this council could bind the councils in 2011 and 2015 to issue bonds," Hendrickson said. "Part of what is going on here is there is a leap of faith."

The council still will have to vote on specific contracts with the team, once details and language are settled.

Checketts insisted "clever minds" could work it out - "I don't think anything's going to bring it down," he said - and added the funding snafu could be worked out "creatively."

Anderson, who called the deal a "no-brainer," suggested there are all sorts of methods to make the funding agreement binding. But the capital mayor also called on the county to replace the "injunctive relief" language if the team folds within the next 30 years.

Right now, the "letter of intent" places a $10 million penalty on RSL should the team bolt or go bankrupt, but Anderson wants the ability to back that up with a judge's order.

The deal pledges $20 million in existing hotel taxes, tapped for parking at the South Towne Expo Center, to be used for joint parking across State Street near the stadium. Sandy also has promised RSL $15 million in redevelopment funds toward the team's $100 million stadium.

Councilman David Wilde was the most uncomfortable Tuesday. He made a last-ditch effort to put the financing plan before voters on November's ballot, but the motion failed 6-3.

"In my heart I feel it should be privately financed," said Wilde, who called the process "very ugly."

"A process, I think, is why the public becomes jaded about politics and politicians."

In a red-faced exchange, Wilde traded barbs with a testy Joe Hatch when his council counterpart suggested the motion for the ballot was last-minute "posturing."

"For hell's sake, Joe," Wilde yelled. "Talk about last minute," questioning how prudent it was to cobble a deal in the last two days. "Don't blame me for demagoguery. This is a sincere motion."

Wilde went on to recount the behind-the-scenes pressure he endured from lobbyists and stadium backers after casting the decisive no vote last month.

"If I don't get re-elected, it's not the end of my life."

Roughly a dozen people spoke, most in opposition, during a open comment period before the debate. County officials also have been swarmed by negative e-mails since a last-minute deal was cobbled over the weekend.

Several residents complained of what they called backroom deals with not enough disclosure on details.

Councilman Jim Bradley agreed.

"I cannot say this has been a good healthy process," he said. "It's not in the public's interest, in my mind, to spend public money to make a private enterprise successful."

But Dolan, who has outlined plans for a $650 million mixed-use development in the stadium's shadow, praised the council for giving the green light.

"Call me Lazarus," he said, referring to the county's two previous rejections of stadium plans. "I'm so grateful to Mayor Corroon and the council for giving us another chance."

Construction on the stadium - a broadcast studio and hotel still are planned, but will not be funded by the county - could begin this fall. Completion is slated for early in RSL's 2008 season.

Wearing his RSL scarf outside the council chamber, Midvale's Eric Salsbery said the stadium seesaw got his blood pressure up, but now looks forward to buying a brick outside the stadium sidewalk.

"I'm going to be looking to buy a condo in Real soccer city as well."

djensen@sltrib.com

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Tribune reporter Heather May contributed to this report.