Paying for new and better roads is one of the biggest challenges for Utah government. Distributing the burden fairly is even harder.

The Salt Lake County Council wisely recognizes that land in the western county must be purchased right away so the planned Mountain View Corridor highway can be built. Unfortunately, the Utah County Commission was not so farsighted when it unwisely decided last year to postpone asking residents to OK a quarter-cent sales tax hike that would have produced about $25 million for roads.

Now Utah County residents face a looming nightmare when motorists are diverted off I-15 while it gets an overhaul beginning in 2011, so the county commission wants to begin upgrading side roads to carry the overflow.

Thus both Utah and Salt Lake county governments had little choice but to take up the 2005 Legislature on its offer to allow them to collect $10 additional fees on all car registrations.

The increase will produce just $2.6 million for Utah County and $7 million in Salt Lake, a drop in the proverbial bucket compared to the expected cost of buying land and upgrading and adding roads - $285 million for projects throughout Utah County and $175 million to buy land for the Mountain View Corridor.

Davis County officials passed on the fee hike. Why are we not surprised?

Davis motorists will be the beneficiaries of the Legacy Parkway, a $685 million, state-of-the-art alternative to I-15, and a heavy-rail commuter train that will run from Ogden to Salt Lake City. Davis collects a half-cent sales tax for transit service, but won't pay a toll to drive on Legacy.

If Salt Lake County residents feel they've been dealt with a bit unfairly, that's understandable. Besides paying more for vehicle registration and just under a half-cent in sales tax for its transit service, residents will likely be charged a toll to use the Mountain View Corridor highway.

Davis officials should reconsider. Imposing the fee hike now could help pave the way for the growth that is sure to continue.