The two groups are on opposite sides of a bill, still being drafted, that would curtail the creation of redevelopment agencies (RDAs), which are designed to help cities revive "blighted" areas.

"The projects are growing," said Brent Gardner, executive director of the Utah Association of Counties. "We have very little support from the counties anywhere in the state for RDAs."

City leaders argue an RDA is one of the few tools they have to bring life to areas marked by vacant buildings, dilapidated sewers and nonexistent roadways. And the bill, sponsored by Sen. Curtis Bramble, R-Provo, will kill RDAs entirely, according to Randy Sant, Sandy's director of economic development.

"The way the bill is written, come May 1, 2005, there are no RDAs," Sant said.

The two sides met Wednesday during a meeting of the Utah League of Cities and Towns.

RDAs allow cities to use property taxes within an area limited to 100 acres to pay for improvements and to entice development of economically dead zones.

In recent years, allegations have been raised that cities were abusing the RDA statute - primarily using it as a lure to bring retailers and sales-tax revenue to vacant land.

In addition, cities can take the entire increase in property taxes generated from growing property values, leaving counties and school districts without additional funding for as long as 30 years.

Bramble's bill would reportedly eliminate the use of RDAs in conjunction with retail development. County officials argue a retail RDA just shifts tax dollars from one community to another, while delivering an economic deathblow to existing businesses.

"It's a zero-sum game," said Michael Jensen, chairman of the Salt Lake County Council. "You're not really creating economic development."

On Tuesday, the County Council voted to stay neutral on Bramble's bill.

Leaders of the Utah League of Cities and Towns want to delay any RDA changes for a year and have a legislative task force work out improvements to the entire statute.

"We're willing to throw the whole thing on the table," Sant said.

With "pretty strong feelings to proceed," Gardner said counties will be pushing for a change during the current legislative session.