Not that he's planning to pull out his veto pen, the mayor insists.

Corroon said Monday he just wants to know who gets the last word if the County Council decides to let east-siders vote to form their own school districts.

The stakes are big. Without the county's consent, the proposed breakaway districts would lose large swaths of unincorporated land and likely could not be formed.

Corroon has requested a legal opinion from the District Attorney's Office to determine whether his veto powers are potent enough to stop a "yes" vote - hardly a certainty with the council evenly divided on the ballot proposal.

"The path we are going down is very important," Corroon said. "It is not like fixing a pothole. This is something that is going to last for years to come. I want to make sure citizens have all the information they need."

The county mayor - who has the authority to nix budget items and quash most legislative actions such as ordinances and resolutions - had not received a reply Monday on whether he could wield his veto.

The big "if" lies in the state law that entrusts the ballot decision to the "county legislative body," according to Robert Rees, an attorney at the Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel.

Philosophically, Corroon said he favors smaller school districts that provide more local control. He even supports putting the idea before voters. But the mayor wonders if a fall election is a little premature. He said too many questions remain unanswered.

The County Council will debate the issue today. With sentiments split, the council's July 31 vote is too close to call.

Four council members say the districts' fate should live or die at the ballot box. Three oppose the move as potentially damaging to the west side. And two - Councilmen Jim Bradley and Joe Hatch - declare themselves undecided.

"I'm convinced that something must be done," Councilman Randy Horiuchi said. "The public outcry is becoming enormous."

Council members Mark Crockett, Jeff Allen, Marv Hendrickson and Horiuchi said they will push for a public vote, while Jenny Wilson, David Wilde and Michael Jensen say they lean against it.

As for Corroon?

"I'm in favor of putting it on the ballot," he said. "The question is when."

jstettler@sltrib.com