From Deseret News archives:

Corroon says no deal

Checketts is considering selling the soccer team

Published: Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2007 12:16 a.m. MST
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Under the proposal killed by Corroon Monday, the county would have pitched in $30 million in hotel-tax revenue to pay for land and infrastructure around the stadium. Sandy pledged another $15 million.

In exchange, Real would give the county $27.5 million back in cash and in-kind contributions. That money would come from parking and ticket revenue, youth soccer and a gift of $7.5 million to Salt Lake City from Real to build a soccer complex in the city.

The much-discussed subsidizes by Sandy city and Salt Lake County should "absolutely not have been given. Taxpayer money shouldn't be spent on such things," said Mike Jerman, vice president of the Utah Taxpayers Association, a business-backed group that opposed taxpayer subsidizes for the stadium.

"We have business start ups here all the time. Rarely, if ever, do these firms expect to get money from taxpayers."

There are a few instances when local businesses should receive government help — usually in the form of tax breaks rather than cash outlays — and those economic incentives should be sharply targeted to increase productivity and the expansion of many new, high-paying jobs, Jerman said.

Real never met those standards, Jerman said.

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Now that the deal is off, Corroon recommended that the county provide the $7.5 million for the purchase and construction of the youth soccer fields in Salt Lake City.

County Councilman Jim Bradley said he supports that decision, indicating the council will likely vote to allocate money for the fields.

Corroon said the county will still build a $20 million parking garage near the South Towne Exposition Center. Real wanted to share the parking garage with the county.

If Checketts hopes for legislative help, Curtis said he likely won't find any on Capitol Hill.

"I accept the outcome and will not try to revive the project with legislation," Curtis said.

However, in an interview earlier in the day with the Deseret Morning News and KSL-TV, Curtis said a blank bill he filed, titled Transient Room Taxes, "could be drafted" to direct hotel-room taxes to the stadium.

"I don't know if there is the will of the Legislature to redirect the TRT tax," Curtis said. "If (Checketts is) done, it's done. I don't know a course of action. I don't know what options there are."

Curtis said he intends to use the bill to direct the county on how to spend the hotel-room tax money, as well as urge county leaders to finally start construction on a parking garage at the expo center.

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