The money could serve as an olive branch for Sandy, potentially easing the soccer-strained ties between the two governments.

But that branch grew thorny this week as Republican County Councilman Mark Crockett accused the county's Democratic mayor - who owes much of his grass-roots popularity to rejecting a stadium-funding package last year - of pumping dollars into the RSL project under the guise of the Sandy Amphitheater.

"This is not about the amphitheater," Crockett said. "It is about the stadium. That might be OK. But pretending that this money is not going to go to the stadium is smoke-and-mirrors P.R."

Corroon and Sandy officials deny any connection between the projects. The mayor said the amphitheater is a regional attraction that needs funding. The county has funneled $300,000 a year to the venue since 1999 and wants to extend that support.

The County Council backed Corroon's proposal Tuesday, voting 5-4 to steer nearly $8.7 million over the next two decades to the amphitheater and recreational facilities, such as a nearby park. The deal forbids Sandy from using the money for "a professional soccer stadium."

GOP Council members Crockett and Marv Hendrickson joined Democrats Jenny Wilson and Jim Bradley in voting against the funding deal.

Some council members argue the county's contribution will lighten Sandy's budget and enable the city to spend more money on soccer - even if county cash isn't directly involved.

Those dollars could prove especially helpful after the county recently denied the stadium project a $6 million revenue stream by refusing to participate in Sandy's Community Development Area.

Corroon called the criticism a stretch. "Then we could never provide any funding to Sandy," he countered, without it being perceived as subsidizing the stadium.

Sandy spokeswoman Trina Duerksen insisted the money will not aid the stadium. The amphitheater still has debt payments that will stretch over the next 13 years, plus year-to-year operating costs.

The amphitheater aid was slated to expire this year. "If that funding went away," she said, "we would have to find money to pay debt service and capital outlay."

jstettler@sltrib.com