Merritt Frey, executive director of the Utah Rivers Council, said methods considered for part of the projects' financing involve removing the cap on sales tax or using the state's surplus funds.

"Both of those are essentially using tax dollars to fund the projects," she said. "These are, rightly, incredibly unpopular ways to fund projects."

The methods don't put costs where she believes they belong — on those who would benefit from the projects, she said.

During the meeting, legislative changes were discussed that could help with construction of the Bear River Project. That project would cost nearly $19.6 million and could be built after the St. George pipeline is started.

The proposed change was to remove a requirement that at least 70 percent of a project's water must be under contract before the state could begin construction.

Frey said the change would amount to project planners "doing an end-run around the one good-government protection" in the legislation. "It's common sense to say, 'Let's not spend the money until we know there's a need or a demand for the water.' "

---

E-mail: bau@desnews.com