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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- A proposal by Sandy to help Real Salt Lake make up a $6 million shortfall in their stadium budget is being nixed by Gov. Jon Huntsman.
Sandy's plan would have tapped Salt Lake County hotel taxes to buy 6 acres from Real Salt Lake beyond the team's planned 23-acre stadium complex and then gift the land back to the team. Then RSL could sell the land to plug a $6 million shortfall in its construction budget.
Huntsman says he's against the purchase of the extra land. He says Sandy's proposal would have violated promises made that the $35 million in hotel taxes would be spent only on the 23 stadium acres, parking and public infrastructure.
With the encouragement of Huntsman the Legislature approved the use of hotel taxes for the building of a stadium for the team saving the project. Previously, Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon had shot down the stadium deal saying it was too risky for taxpayers.
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Information from: The Salt Lake Tribune
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
