It's more than merely a perception.

Those who have regularly attended the meetings of city councils and other government boards know that sometimes, before the minutes of a previous meeting are "approved," changes are made. Board or council members may have had a change of heart or just don't like seeing what transpired right there in black and white for God and their constituents to read. And so history is revised.

But fiddling with the record of how public officials handle the public's business should not be allowed. That is why draft legislation headed to the 2006 Utah Legislature that would mandate recordings of all government meetings - both open and closed - should be approved.

The importance of an indisputable record of government meetings was underscored this past week as a jury heard testimony in a lawsuit alleging discrimination brought by a former South Sevier High School English teacher against the Sevier County School District.

According to testimony, minutes of a school board meeting were changed and relevant comments about the teacher were deleted after she made her allegations. In fact, the school district business manager admitted that he and the district superintendent had "edited" several years worth of minutes.

The purpose of keeping minutes is to preserve an account of what was said and done in a meeting. What seems insignificant at the time may become important later. Recordings would safeguard not only the public's interest in what transpires but the government's interest in an accurate record for future reference.

Additionally, making sure everyone speaks into the microphone will not only ensure their comments get recorded but also help everyone at the meeting follow the discussion.

The proposal would rightly give written minutes credence over recordings that are garbled or otherwise marred by technical failures.

If knowing their comments are being recorded prompts officials and others to more thoroughly consider what they say before they say it, all the better.