The Salt Lake County Council today will consider decreasing the length of some terms to two years from four.

Legislators are asking the council to consider the change to prevent "unintended consequences of allowing a current board member to serve four years beyond the normal expiration of the member's term of the office," according to a March 28 letter Senate President John Valentine and House Speaker Greg Curtis sent to the council.

Terms on the boards were staggered so seats would be up for election at different times. But staggering the terms meant some of the board members guaranteed new seats could end up serving up to eight years (if one factors in their current Jordan School Board terms) without having to face a public vote.

"That was clearly not the intention of the legislation that we ran," said Rep. Greg HugheÂs, R-Draper, who during the legislative session sponsored an amendment to the state law enabling districts to split that guaranteed current board members seats on the new boards.

County Councilman Jeff Allen will present the proposal to change the board terms.

To attend

The Salt Lake County Council meets at 1 p.m. today in the council chambers, 2001 S. State St., Salt Lake City, to consider a measure that would change the length of school board members' terms.