Soaring construction costs have put the county's planned Zoo, Arts and Parks projects millions of dollars over budget. But that hasn't dissuaded leaders from asking for an extra $4.6 million to make them more earth-friendly.

It's worth the cost, according to County Mayor Peter Corroon, particularly when officials can tap into the $20 million once earmarked for parking at the South Towne Expo Center and Real Salt Lake's proposed Sandy soccer stadium.

"If we are going to do this," said Ann Ober, the county's environmental policy coordinator, "let's do it right."

The mayor's recommendation widens the gap between the $65 million voters approved for parks and recreation projects in November and actual construction costs that now approach $85 million.

While energy efficiency and "green" design standards might be preferable, the reality is the county doesn't have the money, Councilman Mark Crockett said.

"We would love to do it," Crockett said. "And who wouldn't? But we don't have the money right now."

Trouble is, construction costs have climbed at breakneck speeds across the Wasatch Front, inflating large-scale commercial projects up to 40 percent over the past two years, county leaders say.

That means cost estimates for the fitness centers, swimming pools, ice rinks and other projects envisioned under the ZAP tax - calculated in fall 2005 - are millions of dollars short.

The county has vowed to do all of them anyway. The question is how.

Corroon has recommended dipping into the $20 million kitty once planned for stadium parking. Only the additional expense isn't just for inflated construction costs.

County leaders want cash for energy efficiency - such as new light fixtures - and are asking the council for $3.1 million to meet the "green" building standards envisioned under LEED, a national program entitled Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design sponsored by the U.S. Green Building Council.

While projections show that new light bulbs and other energy savers could pay for themselves in three years on the county's existing buildings and nine years on new buildings, the LEED standards are harder to quantify.

LEED would require more natural light, better airflow, heightened water efficiency and a variety of other factors that Ober said would make the projects more desirable, healthy and longer lasting.

"Do we bite the bullet now and say we're going to buy the hybrid?" Councilman Joe Hatch asked. "Or are we going to buy the 8-cylinder gas guzzler?"

But the price tag worries Crockett, who remarked during a County Council meeting two weeks ago that he wonders how many more times officials can make money "appear out of nowhere."

"Of course everyone wants to save energy," Crockett said. "But adding these costs after the fact, when the estimates had already proven too low, is problematic."

Fiscal analyst Dave Delquadro said it makes financial sense to tap into the $20 million parking bond for ZAP projects, whether or not the money goes to "green" building standards.

He said interest rates are locked at 4 percent, and the county could face penalties if the money isn't used by June 2008.

"We want to maximize as much of that bond as we can."

jstettler@sltrib.com