"The funding source . . . is an issue for the members of our association," Gardner said. "Their preference would be that it be available to all counties on a county-option basis.

"Our association feels like there are worthy projects in smaller counties that are not convention facilities that are equally important."

Utah County Commissioner Stephen White was the sole voice of opposition to the bill, stating that "Salt Lake City and Salt Lake County ought to find a way to finance (the expansion) without picking someone else's pockets."

Waddoups acknowledged there's still work being done on the bill, and that further amendments are likely as the various parties hammer out the final details.

"This is the best we've come up with so far," Waddoups said. "I'm told that we may actually see some amendments on Monday, that we've got the parties working over the weekend — the county and Salt Lake City to get closer to that number. They believe they can do it, they're close enough now. So that's why we're bringing (the bill) forward."

1SB211 will now go to the full Senate for debate.

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