Last year, the Legislature slipped $200,000 in ongoing money to the University of Utah's Museum of Natural History, hoping to defend the site against vandals and looters.

But rather than paying for police surveillance, most of the money went to surveying, cataloguing and protecting artifacts from deterioration.

"We deliberately left that appropriation vague. We didn't want to draw attention to the site, because of vandals," says House Executive Appropriations Chairman Rep. Ron Bigelow.

The West Valley City Republican says the U. is not at fault for any misunderstanding and acknowledges, "Perhaps I've learned a good lesson from that. Perhaps good government comes from being fully disclosed," but later clarified that disclosure carries risks too.

"Just look at what has happened," says Bigelow, blaming a string of vandalism on the media frenzy that ensued once news of the area's treasure trove of Fremont Indian artifacts got out.

As many as 200 separate sites containing pit houses, granaries, pottery and other artifacts dot the 12-mile stretch of terrain, home to the Fremont Indians around the year 1000.

State leaders hope to plug the security gap today at a special session of the Legislature by voting to give the state Division of Natural Resources $152,000 in one-time money for surveillance equipment and security personnel.

But there is bound to be debate over whether the money should be carved from the U.'s share, as House Speaker Marty Stephens has proposed, or come from a year-end surplus.

Bigelow wants to pay to secure the area now and re-examine the U.'s budget in January during the general session.

But Stephens calls that plan a "duplication and waste of funds," saying that the university has spent some of the money on educational programs.

U. lobbyist Nancy Lyon says none of the money has been spent on education. And a good chunk paid for a security gate and to hire a ranger to oversee the operation and limit public access.

Faculty and staff also help guard the dig simply by their presence, says Lyon.

Another budget shuffle up for consideration today involves redirecting federal prison funds to expand inmate housing at the State Prison in Draper.

Lawmakers also will consider giving active duty reservists and Utah National Guardsmen a one-year state income tax exemption.

kstewart@sltrib.com