As such, the Republican Salt Lake County Council chairman is mulling an open-space bond question, perhaps totaling $20 million, to go before voters in November.

"If we rely on budget surpluses or adjustments, it may never happen," Ashton says, emphasizing both foothills and Jordan River bottomland need protection. "We have a window of opportunity that is quickly closing."

Ashton estimates $20 million in green space would cost about $5.60 per average household.

"Wow," said Wendy Fisher, executive director of Utah Open Lands, before joking, "What's the catch?"

None, really. Except the lame-duck councilman from Draper would have to persuade at least four fellow council members before the open-space bond could be placed on the ballot. Ashton also must hope the new high-tech voting machines do not become clouded by a forest of bond initiatives, likely hurting the odds for passage.

"It's too early for me to have any solid indication of what will be on the ballot," says Julio Garcia, county elections director. That should become clear after the June primary when both statewide and countywide questions are decided, he says.

The bond is not a foreign concept in Utah. For example, voters in Salt Lake City and Park City have passed open-space initiatives.

Meantime, Ashton's council colleagues sound supportive.

"It comes back in aces to every community," Democratic Councilman Jim Bradley says about maintaining open lands. "It gets more expensive as time goes on. I applaud Cort for having the foresight to do something this important for our community."

Democratic Councilwoman Jenny Wilson agrees.

"It's great," she says. "If you look at the need in the valley and how quickly we're developing, it's something I think the public would stand behind. There's been a real evolution in people's thinking about these things over the past 10 years."

Republican Councilman David Wilde is less enthusiastic, but still interested.

"I'm not opposed to listening to it and even doing it, but I want to have a better understanding of what other initiatives are on the ballot," he says.

Still, Wilde concedes, with Ashton's vote and the likely endorsement from the four Democrats, "I would not be surprised if you have better than a 5-4 majority."

The county has a record supporting open space. During the past year, leaders have been instrumental in funding the protection of Perkins Flat in Emigration Canyon and Corner Canyon in Draper. County Mayor Peter Corroon also has repeatedly pushed for green-space preservation.

Fisher, the Utah Open Lands director, notes that any secured funding - such as a bond - increases green groups' chances of leveraging still more money.

"We didn't fare well with the LeRay McAllister funds," she explains, referring to a state fund created to help with open-space protection. "When there aren't public monies available, we can't take advantage of the federal match."

Fisher says areas across the Wasatch Front, besides the benches, still have land-protection needs, including the west side, Jordan River and the Great Salt Lake shoreline.

Ashton says his goal is to secure conservation easements and take the protection "as far as we can go."

And, he has an ally in yet another County Council Republican.

"Relative to the many demands on funds," says Mark Crockett, "I can think of few better ways to invest in our future."

djensen@sltrib.com

Weighing the bond

* A $20 million bond would cost $5.60 per year for the owner of a $195,000 home, according to projections by the county's chief financial officer.