Referendums in Utah are rarely attempted and even more rarely successful. The last to make the ballot was a land issue in 1974. Voters rejected it.

Salt Lake City resident Doug Q. Kitt recognizes the effort is "an awesome task," but he said he and his co-workers at a biotech company are fighting against government intervention in private business.

"The Legislature is not representing the majority of the people in this case," Kitt said. "I don't think that is an appropriate use of government funds."

Polls have shown that the public doesn't like the public assistance for Real Salt Lake. Peter Corroon, the mayor of Salt Lake County, nixed the deal before lawmakers and Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. revived it, saying a stadium and a professional soccer team will help Utah's economy in the long run.

"I guess I'm just a little bit perplexed," said Syracuse Republican Sen. Sheldon Killpack, who sponsored the bill, HB38, in the Senate. "The funding doesn't really affect anyone's taxes locally."

The bill would spend $35 million in taxes collected by people staying in Salt Lake County hotels on a parking structure and the land for the stadium.

Kitt's co-worker, Brad SwedÂlund, is leading the referendum effort. He could not be reached Monday evening, but Kitt said none of the petition sponsors had experience in such efforts.

The referendum petition filed Monday afternoon is the second this year, and came in just a few hours before the deadline.

Another petition, filed last week by the education establishment, seeks to overturn Utah's new private school voucher program.

The differences between the two attempts are stark. The anti-voucher group has the backing of the PTA and the state's largest teachers union, providing an instant volunteer group to collect signatures. Kitt said the anti-RSL group is hoping that public outrage will spur involvement.

mcanham@sltrib.com

"I guess I'm just a little bit perplexed. The funding doesn't really affect anyone's taxes locally."

SEN. SHELDON KILLPACK

R-Syracuse