So far, most city councils have approved resolutions backing the Nov. 6 ballot measure known as Opinion Question One.

In Davis and Weber, the money would generally go for more and better roads and, in Box Elder County, a train or bus rapid-transit line to Willard, Perry and Brigham City.

As Roy Mayor Joe Ritchie said, "It's either pay me now or pay me later," when it comes to buying land for future roads, a key goal of the higher tax in Davis and Weber counties.

In Ogden, though, the City Council has balked until it is assured that mass transit, such as a streetcar or bus rapid-transit line between downtown and Weber State University, is a possible candidate for funding.

North Salt Lake, which feels like it "got the short end of the stick" in two previous transportation initiatives - Legacy Highway and FrontRunner Commuter Rail - rejected the resolution outright, said City Manager Collin Wood.

And in Centerville, the council heard the pitch of Question 1 proponents, but made no move to endorse it with a resolution.

A coalition - the Northern Utah Transportation Alliance - has been formed by the chambers of commerce in Davis, Weber and southern Box Elder counties. It is promoting the the tax, which would amount to one penny for every $4 in sales.

Its hope is that northern Utah voters will be as supportive as those in Salt Lake County, where the tax was approved last November. The coalition raised half of the $300,000 it needs for the campaign, said spokesman Steve Handy.

Alliance members have been visiting city councils, seeking resolutions of support, and still have a number of cities to go.

The money raised through the quarter-cent bump would not be nearly enough to improve and build the roads the region needs or to bring train service to Brigham City - but it's a start, said David Hardman, president of the Ogden-Weber Chamber of Commerce and campaign co-chairman.

Moreover, the tax money would trigger matching funds from the state, he said.

"We get to move transportation faster and at less cost," he said.

The business community is pushing for the sales tax because it believes a sound transportation network is vital to future growth, Hardman has said.

By legislative directive, one-quarter of the revenue in Davis and Weber counties would be spent on acquiring corridors for future roads.

That was a big deal to the Roy City Council, Ritchie said, adding, "We have a great need for east-west roads."

Also key, he said, was that the decision about how the money is spent would largely be left to the Weber Association of Governments, which has a representative from each city. The WACOG would set transportation priorities, and the Legislature's Executive Appropriations Committee would have the final say.

Ogden City Council's executive director, Bill Cook, said he's unsure his council will approve a resolution without the Weber Area Council of Government first determining what percentage of the money would go to transit and which to roads.

Council Chairman Jesse Garcia, however, said he expects the resolution eventually will pass.

In North Salt Lake, Wood said, the council concurred there is nothing to gain by supporting the higher tax.

The council there was disinterested in supporting higher taxes in a year when property values and taxes are soaring, and the Davis County Commission raised taxes to pay for the new jail, Wood said.

"Why would we actively support that when we don't think there's any chance in the world it will pass?"

kmoulton@sltrib.com