Councilmen Jim Bradley and Randy Horiuchi declared their opposition Monday, saying plans to divide Utah's second-largest district are too premature to put before voters.

"I would support a vote on this," Bradley said. "But I don't think people have done their homework. This is more reactive than thoughtful."

The proposed Jordan School District split remains deadlocked, 4-4, with Councilman Joe Hatch holding the swing vote.

But the new 5-3 majority against a breakaway district on Granite's east side could crush the campaign for a fall referendum. Split seekers need the county's unincorporated neighborhoods in order to get the issue on the ballot.

Bradley's vote came after weeks on the fence; Horiuchi's came as a change of mind.

The trouble for Horiuchi lies in Murray, where officials decided not to participate in the new district push. Without some agreement on how to divvy assets, Granite could lose millions of dollars in schools and infrastructure.

That's "wrongheaded public policy," Horiuchi said.

The Jordan split, for now, hangs on Hatch.

The Democrat - who has declined to take a position publicly - is flanked on one side by supporters Mark Crockett, Jeff Allen, Marv Hendrickson and Horiuchi and on the other by David Wilde, Jenny Wilson, Michael Jensen and Bradley.

But there's a wild card: Crockett plans to urge his colleagues today to cast a conditional "yes" vote.

If the Legislature takes "reasonable and adequate steps" to balance the tax burden between east-side and west-side schools, then the County Council would promise - albeit in a nonbinding resolution - to vote for a public referendum.

Not only is Crockett searching for support from his own council, but he also wants to increase pressure on the Legislature to act.

"Let's seize the day," he said, " and see if we can get both done."

But Crockett's compromise may not build many bridges, a survey of undecided and opposing council members indicates.

Hatch said the resolution "sounds like desperation." Wilde said it fixes only half the problem, noting that west-siders still could not vote on measures that would allow their east-side neighbors to splinter into new districts.

Wilson said she would keep an "open mind" about Crockett's proposal.

The council has scheduled a public hearing today at 4:30 p.m. at the Salt Lake County Government Center, 2001 S. State St.

The room is expected to burst with Cottonwood High supporters, who fear a Granite district defection will close their school.

jstettler@sltrib.com

Speak out

The Salt Lake County Council will open the floor today to comments about the proposed Granite and Jordan school district splits. The hearing is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. at the Salt Lake County Government Center, 2001 S. State St.

Keeping score

It remains too close to call as to whether County Council members will vote to put the district divisions on the ballot. While the "no" crowd seems to have gained some traction in Granite, the Jordan proposal is split 4-4. Here's where they stand:

Granite:

* Yes

Mark Crockett

Jeff Allen

Marv Hendrickson

* No

David Wilde

Jenny Wilson

Michael Jensen

Jim Bradley

Randy Horiuchi

* Undecided

Joe Hatch

Jordan:

* Yes

Mark Crockett

Jeff Allen

Marv Hendrickson

Randy Horiuchi

* No

David Wilde

Jenny Wilson

Michael Jensen

Jim Bradley

* Undecided

Joe Hatch