If things follow their current path in Utah, there may be only three levels of government here with any meaning: federal, state and Sandy.
The latest word from our Legislature is that the powers that be are determined to finance a professional soccer stadium in Sandy with a questionable revenue source that supposedly belongs to Salt Lake County. So determined that they are willing to blackmail county officials with threats of freezing other revenues they count on to fund ongoing programs.
This is a Legislature considering bills that would destroy local zoning authority, micromanage curriculum and activities in local school districts and fiddle around with employee benefits, emergency services and other matters now under local control.
Yet when Sandy officials want something, legislative leadership sits up and barks.
The plan has two parts. First, extend the latest 1.25-percent part of the county hotel tax, which is paying for all the concrete that's being poured at the ever-larger Salt Palace, so that it does not expire in 10 years.
Second, use the extra money to fund $45 million in public infrastructure costs toward the $145 million stadium/hotel/retail/broadcasting complex envisioned by Real Salt Lake for Sandy's 9400 South and State Street neighborhood. RSL would finance the rest.
Because the hotel tax revenue belongs to the county, Mayor Peter Corroon and his County Council would have to agree to such a deal. So far, county officials aren't sure that's a good idea. And the mostly downtown Salt Lake City hoteliers, who collect the tax, know it isn't.
But because Sandy Mayor Tom Dolan and House Speaker Greg Curtis, R-You-know-where, do think it's a good idea, word on the Hill is that if the county won't go along, the Legislature is prepared to cut off the county's tourism and recreation funding as well.
It's not necessary to oppose public funding for RSL, in a deal not so different from the one that built the Delta Center, to oppose such a power play.
If Sandy officials are convinced that the RSL plan is so wonderful, they can concoct a way to put their own taxpayers on the hook for it. If such a plan would need special action by the Legislature, the city clearly knows who to call.
