Some $18 million in Salt Lake County money may be used to help pay for the stadium. That money was earmarked to build a parking garage for Sandy's South Towne Expo Center, but could be used instead to pay for a less expensive parking area and some stadium costs.

Here's the rub: Salt Lake City gave the county $8 million to help pay for that garage and the expansion of the Salt Palace. Salt Lake City Council Chairman Dale Lambert said Thursday that he wants to persuade the county to reject the funding scheme. If he can't do that, the city deserves a refund of the portion it paid toward the garage, roughly $2 million.

"We will make our position crystal clear - that the Salt Palace expansion funding should not be used for the purchase of property, or otherwise, for the soccer stadium," Lambert said. "That funding was never intended for that purpose."

Lambert admitted there may be no legal recourse to get Salt Lake City's money back.

Still, the county "should understand the public knows what's going on. This is an issue frankly all citizens of Salt Lake County ought to care about - ethics and full, honest disclosure in the use of taxpayer money," he said.