Salt Lake County leaders insisted Tuesday that a campaign-finance reform rewrite that would allow cash contributions from county contractors is not a step backward. Capping the amount at $2,500 for all donors, they say, prevents undue influence.

And besides, says County Councilwoman Jenny Wilson, the architect of the plan, a similar ban on contractors recently was deemed unconstitutional in New Jersey.

Still, the County Council stopped short of adopting the changes, opting to return to the issue in three weeks.

"We're not equivocating or waffling," Councilman Jim Bradley said. "This is the guts of what we do. We don't want to make mistakes."

But Auditor Sean Thomas says one part of the proposal is just that. He maintains exempting political parties from the definitions of contribution or expenditure - parties may spend unlimited amounts to benefit candidates - is a loophole.

A special interest group, for instance, could give the party money, which then could be spent on campaign signs or billboards in a specific race.

"None of that activity would show up on the candidate's disclosure form," Thomas said.

Thomas also suggested capping party contributions at $5,000 or $10,000.

Other proposed reforms include a recusal requirement if a conflict of interest exists, a one-year prohibition on lobbying the county for former employees and a switch in disclosure filings to three days before an election.

Meantime, Councilman Mark Crockett said he is uncomfortable allowing money from contractors as long as the limits are "so high as to be a joke." An ethics subcommittee considered a $1,000 ceiling.

Crockett said the public "wants to know somebody can't walk up and buy an outcome."

In other business, the council:

l Approved $400,000 in open-space money to protect Perkins Flat in Emigration Canyon. Utah Open Lands has until September to raise $1.4 million to purchase the parcel.

l Agreed to enforce legislative intent on the county's billboard ordinance to prevent new permits for eight proposed billboards along Interstate 80 near the Great Salt Lake. A bill passed at the Legislature had placed the permit status in question.

djensen@sltrib.com

Workers' interests

Joe Hatch insists it's not collective bargaining, but he wants Salt Lake County to adopt a new model for employee representation.

The councilman intends to present an ordinance next week that would overhaul how the county's 4,000-member work force negotiates salaries, hours and work rules.

Hatch hopes to diminish competition between existing labor unions and eliminate the council's confusion when hosting labor talks.

Councilman Randy Horiuchi endorses the idea, saying the message from warring union groups "has been muddled."

"They twist it in their own vein," he said. "That is disturbing."

Council colleague Mark Crockett worries that creating a new vehicle would effectively average employee opinion instead of collect a tally.

Hatch is undeterred.

"This is the last piece of the puzzle in terms of county reform," he said Tuesday.