Many Utah voters will have a choice this fall to raise their property tax for TRAX expansion — but most would prefer a sales-tax hike instead, according to a new Deseret Morning News/KSL-TV poll.

The survey, conducted by Dan Jones & Associates, shows that 60 percent of Salt Lake County residents prefer a sales tax hike to build four new light-rail lines, while 28 percent prefer a property tax hike.

Also, 50 percent of those surveyed said they definitely or probably would not vote this fall for a property tax hike for TRAX, while 48 percent lean toward a positive vote.

"I hope this means that the governor and legislative leaders will see that the people of Salt Lake County want four new lines and that they'd prefer to pay for it with a sales tax increase," West Valley Mayor Dennis Nordfelt told the Morning News on Saturday. "I hope they give them that mechanism."

The poll of 378 Salt Lake County residents took place this past week, July 14-20, and has a margin of error of 5 percent.

On Tuesday, the Salt Lake County Council voted to put a $895 million bond on the November ballot to pay for expansion of TRAX. The bond, if approved, will cost residents about $95 each year in property taxes on a $180,000 home.

Even while putting the proposal on the ballot, council members agreed that the property tax wasn't the best way to fund TRAX expansion, observing that legislative leaders have been reluctant to talk about authorizing a perhaps more acceptable sales tax hike until the next general legislative session in January.

Salt Lake Chamber president Lane Beattie said Saturday that he hopes public opinion can sway lawmakers to debate a sales tax hike now, instead of during the general session. Last month, the chamber released a transportation funding proposal that called for a sales tax hike in four counties to expand TRAX and commuter rail and do some road improvements.

That increase would raise about $1.8 billion over the next 10 years.

In another part of the new Dan Jones survey, about 68 percent of residents in Salt Lake, Davis, Utah and Weber counties said they definitely or probably would vote for such a sales tax increase. About 28 percent would not. For the poll, 707 people were surveyed in the four counties; the margin of error was 3.7 percent.

"To me, it's very good news, and I'm certainly pleased that the general public agrees with the general business community," said Beattie. "I think that's very revealing."

Over the coming weeks, business leaders and supporters like Nordfelt plan to lobby the Legislature to authorize a sales tax increase in lieu of the property tax hike approved by Salt Lake County. Members of the County Council plan to do the same.

The Utah Transit Authority said Saturday it will support whatever politicians and the general public decide to do.

"We'll continue to answer questions," said spokesman Kyle Bennett, "and whichever way it goes, we'll work with what happens."

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E-mail: nwarburton@desnews.com